EP3231025B1 - Transport system for convertible battery pack - Google Patents
Transport system for convertible battery pack Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP3231025B1 EP3231025B1 EP15868166.8A EP15868166A EP3231025B1 EP 3231025 B1 EP3231025 B1 EP 3231025B1 EP 15868166 A EP15868166 A EP 15868166A EP 3231025 B1 EP3231025 B1 EP 3231025B1
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- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- battery pack
- battery
- cells
- string
- terminal
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- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
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Images
Classifications
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- H01M50/00—Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the non-active parts of electrochemical cells other than fuel cells, e.g. hybrid cells
- H01M50/20—Mountings; Secondary casings or frames; Racks, modules or packs; Suspension devices; Shock absorbers; Transport or carrying devices; Holders
- H01M50/204—Racks, modules or packs for multiple batteries or multiple cells
- H01M50/207—Racks, modules or packs for multiple batteries or multiple cells characterised by their shape
- H01M50/213—Racks, modules or packs for multiple batteries or multiple cells characterised by their shape adapted for cells having curved cross-section, e.g. round or elliptic
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- H01M50/00—Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the non-active parts of electrochemical cells other than fuel cells, e.g. hybrid cells
- H01M50/50—Current conducting connections for cells or batteries
- H01M50/502—Interconnectors for connecting terminals of adjacent batteries; Interconnectors for connecting cells outside a battery casing
- H01M50/503—Interconnectors for connecting terminals of adjacent batteries; Interconnectors for connecting cells outside a battery casing characterised by the shape of the interconnectors
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- H01M50/00—Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the non-active parts of electrochemical cells other than fuel cells, e.g. hybrid cells
- H01M50/50—Current conducting connections for cells or batteries
- H01M50/502—Interconnectors for connecting terminals of adjacent batteries; Interconnectors for connecting cells outside a battery casing
- H01M50/509—Interconnectors for connecting terminals of adjacent batteries; Interconnectors for connecting cells outside a battery casing characterised by the type of connection, e.g. mixed connections
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- H01M2200/00—Safety devices for primary or secondary batteries
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y02E60/00—Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
- Y02E60/10—Energy storage using batteries
Definitions
- This application relates to rechargeable battery packs and systems for transporting the battery packs.
- shipping regulations pose limitations how much energy is disposed in a battery pack. For example, some regulations require that each cell have an energy equal to or less than 20 Watt-hours, and that each battery pack has an energy limit equal to or less than 100 Watt-hours . It is preferable to provide a solution that can maximize the energy available to the end user while complying with shipping regulations.
- a temporary separator could be used to separate components of the battery pack, thus opening the battery pack circuit, limiting the energy output.
- EP 3273 569 A1 forms part of the state of the art according to Article 54(3) EPC and discloses the pre-characterising portion of claim 1.
- US2012/071711 A1 discloses battery packs for use with surgical instruments.
- the battery packs comprise a plurality of cells and the plurality of cells are not be electrically connected to one another.
- the battery packs comprise a switch for interconnecting the plurality of cells.
- Battery packs for example rechargeable battery packs for power tools typically include two or more strings (also referred to as "sets") of cells that are connected to each other in parallel. Each string may include one or more cells. If a string of cells includes, for example five battery cells and each cell has a rated voltage of four (4) volts and a rated capacity of five (5) Amp-hours the string of cells will have a power rating of one hundred (100) Watt-hours - 4V x 5 Ah x 5 cells. The two strings of cells, whether connected in series or parallel, will have a power rating of 200 Whr. Such a battery pack would exceed the aforementioned limits and require special shipping.
- the present invention enables the battery pack to be placed in a configuration that isolates the strings of cells from each other such that the battery pack does not include a battery that exceeds the 100 Whr. limit set by the aforementioned rules.
- Advantages may include one or more of the following.
- FIG. 1 illustrates three views of an exemplary embodiment of a battery pack 10, this exemplary battery pack is a convertible battery pack, for example one of the convertible battery packs disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 9,406,915 .
- the battery pack 10 includes a housing 12. Regardless of the structure, the housing12 will form an interior cavity.
- the housing 12 includes a battery interface 14 for mechanically coupling with a corresponding interface of an electrical device, for example, a power tool or a battery charger.
- the battery interface 14 includes a rail and groove system including a pair of rails 16 and a pair of grooves 18. Other types of interfaces are contemplated and encompassed by the present invention.
- the battery interface 14 may also include a latching system including a latch 20 for affixing the battery pack 10 to the electrical device.
- the housing 12 also includes a plurality of slots 22 in a top portion 24 of the housing 12.
- the slots 22 may be positioned in other portions of the housing.
- the plurality of slots 22 forms a set of slots.
- the plurality of slots 22 corresponds to a plurality of battery pack terminals 26.
- the plurality of battery pack terminals forms a set of battery pack terminals.
- the plurality of slots also corresponds to a plurality of terminals of the electrical device.
- the plurality of electrical device terminals forms a set of electrical device terminals. The electrical device terminals are received by the battery terminal slots 22 and engage and mate with the battery pack terminals 26, as will be discussed in more detail below.
- the battery pack housing 12 also includes a pair of conversion slots or raceways 28 extending along the top portion24 of the housing 12 on opposing sides of the battery terminal slots 22.
- the raceways 28 extend from a forward (in the orientation illustrated in Figure 1 ) edge or surface of the housing 12 to a central portion of the top portion of the housing.
- Each raceway 28 ends at a through hole 30 in the top portion 24 of the housing 12.
- the through holes 30 extend from an exterior surface of the housing to the interior cavity.
- the through holes 30 are positioned in front of the rails 16 of the battery interface 14 and adjacent to the housing slots 22.
- the conversion slots 28 and through holes 30 may be positioned in other portions of the housing 12. Alternate embodiments may include more or less conversion slots.
- the exemplary embodiment of the battery pack 10 includes a plurality of battery cells 32.
- the battery pack 10 also includes a terminal block 34 and the battery pack terminals 26.
- the battery pack terminals 26 are configured to electrically couple to the electrical device terminals and at another end the battery pack terminals 26 are electrically coupled to the battery cells 32, as described in more detail below.
- the exemplary battery pack 10 includes two sets (also referred to as strings) of battery cells 32 - an A set and a B set.
- each set of cells includes five battery cells 32.
- the five battery cells are electrically connected in series.
- Each set of cells has a positive terminal and a negative terminal.
- a converting subsystem makes and breaks connections between the terminals of the sets of cells to effectively open and close the switches SW1-SW3 illustrated in Figures 7 and 15 and described above.
- the converting subsystem includes a converter element 50.
- Figure 4 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the converter element 50 - also referred to as a coupler, a conversion card, a slider or a slider card - of the exemplary embodiment of the convertible battery pack 10 of Figure 1 .
- the battery pack illustrated in Figure 3 may be placed in three configurations and is capable of presenting two different rated voltages.
- the battery pack may be configured to present a first rated voltage wherein the two sets of battery cells are coupled in a first manner (in parallel), may be configured to present a second rated voltage wherein the two sets of battery cells are coupled in a second manner (in series), and may be configured to present a zero voltage wherein the two sets of battery cells are decoupled.
- the converter element 50 includes a support structure, board or housing 52.
- the support structure 52 may be of a plastic material or any other material that will serve the functions described below.
- the converter element support structure 52 is in the shape of a U. More specifically, the converter element support structure 52 includes two parallel legs 54 and a crossbar 56 connecting the parallel legs 54.
- the converter element 50 may take other shapes.
- the converter element 50 includes a pair of projections 58.
- the converter element projections 58 extend from a top surface of the converter element support structure. One of the projections 58 may extend from a surface of each of the parallel legs 54.
- the converter element 50 may include more or less projections 58. Each projection 58 extends through one of the through holes 30 and into the raceway 28.
- the projections 58 are positioned at a first end of the corresponding through hole 30.
- the projections 58 are positioned at a second end of the corresponding through hole 30.
- the converter element 50 also includes a plurality of contacts 60.
- the plurality of contacts 60 forms a set of contacts.
- the support structure 52 also includes a bottom surface. The contacts 60 extend from the bottom surface of the cross bar 56.
- the battery pack 10 also includes a pair of compression springs 62. Alternate exemplary embodiments may include more or less springs, other types of springs and/or springs positioned in different locations. These embodiments are contemplated and encompassed by the present disclosure.
- Each parallel leg 54 includes a spring 62 thereabout. A first end of each compression spring 62 engages a wall of the projection 58. A second end of each compression spring 62 engages a wall of the support board 52.
- the compression springs 62 are configured to force the converter element 50 into the first position, as illustrated in Figure 5 . As illustrated in Figure 5 , the battery pack is configured to present a first (low) rated voltage.
- the sets of battery cells are coupled in parallel.
- the two switch contacts 60a (S1), 60B (S2) make mechanical and electrical contact with the contact pads 66 to couple the sets of battery cells 34a, 34b in parallel.
- Figure 6 illustrates an alternate presentation of Figure 5 in which the switch contacts 60a, 60b make mechanical and electrical contact with the contact pads 66 to couple the sets of battery cells 34a, 34b in parallel.
- Figure 7 illustrates an electrical circuit diagram which illustrates electrical switches (SW1, SW2) representative of the physical switches created by the switch contacts 60 and the contact pads 66.
- the power switch SW1 when the switch contact 60a couples the A- contact pad 66 and the B- contact pad 66 the power switch SW1 is closed (in a closed state) and when the switch contact 60b couples the A+ contact pad 66 and the B+ contact pad 66 the power switch SW2 is closed (in a closed state) and as no switch contact couples the A- contact pad 66 to the B+ contact pad 66 the power switch SW3 is open (in an opened state).
- the A string (set) of battery cells 34a and the B string (set) of battery cells 34b are electrically connected in parallel by the switch network made up of power switches SW1, SW2 and SW3.
- the converter element 50 As described in detail in U.S. Patent No. 9,406,915 , as the electrical device mates with the battery pack 10 in the mating direction and the electrical device conversion elements engage the converter element projections 58, the converter element 50 is moved from its first position (illustrated in Figure 5 ) and forced to act against the spring 62 thereby compressing the spring 62. When the electrical device is fully mated with the battery pack 10, the converter element 50 will have moved from the first position to the second position and the spring 62 will be at its full compression (illustrated in Figure 16 ). When the electrical device is detached from the battery pack 10, the spring 62 forces the converter element 50 to move from the second position (illustrated in Figure 16 ) to the first position (illustrated in Figure 5 ).
- the battery pack 10 may also include, for example, the PCB and/or some other type of insulating support board 64 between the converter element 50 and the cells 32, as described in more detail below.
- Figure 6 illustrates a simplified circuit diagram of an exemplary battery of the exemplary embodiment of the convertible battery pack 10.
- the battery pack 10 is convertible between the low rated voltage configuration and the medium rated voltage configuration. Solely for purposes of example, the low rated voltage may be 20 Volts and the medium rated voltage may be 40 Volts. Other voltages are contemplated and encompassed by the scope of this disclosure.
- the exemplary battery includes two strings (also referred to as sets) 34 of cells - an "A" string 34a and a "B" string 34b - each string including 5 battery cells 32. Other exemplary, alternate embodiments may include fewer or more strings and/or fewer or more cells per string.
- Each string of cells 32 includes a positive terminal, e.g., A+, B+ and a negative terminal, e.g., A-, B-.
- Each cell 32 is denoted by the string and its position in the string, e.g., C A1 is the first cell in the A string when moving from negative terminal to the positive terminal in the string and C B5 is the fifth cell in the B string when moving from the negative terminal to the positive terminal.
- a node between adjacent cells is denoted by the string and its position in the string, e.g., A2 is a node in the A string between cell C A2 and cell C A3 .
- B3 is a node in the B string between cell C B3 and cell C B4 .
- the battery also includes a plurality of switches - also referred to as a switching network.
- the plurality of switches may be mechanical switches, electronic switches or electromechanical switches or any combination thereof.
- the switches SW1, SW2 are in a closed state and the switch SW3 is in an opened state.
- the switches SW1 and SW2 are in an opened state and switch SW3 is in a closed state.
- the conventional power terminals are typically referred to a DEVICE+ (or TOOL+) and DEVICE- (TOOL-) terminals and couple to the BATT+ and BATT- terminals, respectively.
- FIGS 5 and 6 also clearly illustrate the exemplary contact pad layout.
- Each of the contact pads 66 (A+, B+, A-, B-) is electrically coupled to a denoted cell string terminal, specifically the A+ contact pad 66 is electrically coupled to the A+ terminal of the A string of cells (positive terminal of the "A" set of cells), the B+ contact pad 66 is electrically coupled to the B+ terminal of the B string of cells (positive terminal of the "B" set of cells), the A- contact pad 66 is electrically coupled to the A- terminal of the A string of cells (negative terminal of the "A" set of cells), and the B- contact pad 66 is electrically coupled to the B- terminal of the B string of cells (negative terminal of the "B” set of cells).
- the A+ contact pad 66 is electrically coupled to the BATT+ battery pack terminal 26a.
- the B- contact pad is electrically coupled to the BATT- battery pack terminal 26b.
- the plurality of contact pads 66 allow for the converter element contacts 60 to slide along the support board 64 and the contact 60 to break and make connections between the discrete contact pads 66 - effectively opening and closing the power switches SW1 - SW3, as described above. This process is described in more detail below.
- FIGs 2 and 3 illustrate, in more detail, the exemplary battery pack 10.
- the battery pack 10 includes the converting subsystem.
- the converting subsystem includes the support board and the converter element 50.
- Figure 6 illustrates the plurality of contact pads and the converter element contacts in the first operational position but without the converter element housing.
- the contact pad configuration illustrated in Figure 6 is an exemplary configuration. Alternate exemplary embodiments may include other contact pad configurations and are contemplated and encompassed by the present disclosure.
- Figures 6 and 14 illustrate the low rated voltage configuration and the medium rated voltage configuration, respectively.
- the low rated voltage configuration will be described.
- the exemplary battery pack of Figure 1 When the exemplary battery pack of Figure 1 is not coupled to an electrical device or when it is coupled to a low rated voltage tool, it is in the low rated voltage configuration.
- a first converter element contact electrically couples the A+ contact pad and the B+ contact
- a second converter element contact electrically couples the A- contact pad and the B- contact pad. This effectively places switches SW1 and SW2, in the closed state and as there is no connection between the A- contact pad and the B+ contact pad this effectively places switch SW3 in the opened state.
- the positive terminals of the A string of cells and the B string of cells are all electrically connected and coupled to the BATT+ battery terminal and the negative terminals of the A string of cells and the B string of cells are electrically connected and coupled to the BATT- battery terminal. Therefore the strings of cells are all in parallel.
- the tool projections When the battery pack mates with a medium rated voltage tool, the tool projections will engage the converter element projections and force the converter element to move to its second position.
- the first converter element contact When the converter element moves to its medium rated voltage position, the first converter element contact will decouple from the A+ and B+ contact pads and couple the B+ and A- contact pads and the second converter element contact will decouple from the A- and B- contact pads.
- BATT- battery terminal is coupled to the B- terminal of the B string of cells
- the B+ terminal of the B string of cells is coupled to the A-terminal of the A string of cells
- the A+ terminal of the A string of cells is coupled to the BATT+ terminal. Therefore the strings of cells are all in series.
- the converter element will move from the second position to the first position and the converter element contacts will connect and disconnect to the contact pads in a reverse order described above.
- the convertible battery pack could be configured such that when the battery pack is not mated with the electrical device and the converter element is in the first position the battery pack is in the medium rated voltage configuration and when the battery pack is mated with the electrical device the battery pack is in the low rated voltage configuration.
- the various connections and switches would be adjusted accordingly.
- Figure 8 illustrates several views of an exemplary transport coupler (also referred to as a transport lock or transport cap) 100 of the present disclosure, that mates with the convertible battery pack to place the battery pack in a transport configuration.
- Figure 9 illustrates the transport lock 100 about to mate with the battery pack 10.
- the transport lock 100 includes an interface for coupling with the battery pack.
- the lock 100 includes a cover plate 102 for covering the battery terminal housing slots 22 and a pair of parallel legs 104 that extend from opposing sides of the cover plate 102.
- the legs 104 are configured to slide into the grooves 18 of the battery pack 10 similar to rails of an electrical device that is configured to mate with the battery pack 10.
- the lock 100 also includes a pair of conversion elements or actuators 106 positioned parallel with the parallel legs 104. These actuators 106 are configured to be received in the battery pack raceways 28 similar to the conversion elements of the electrical device.
- the actuators 106 may be simple projections or protrusions that may extend down from the lock 100.
- the actuators 106 are sized and positioned to be received in corresponding battery pack conversion slots 28.
- the lock 100 also includes a locking projection 108 spaced forward from the actuator 106 and separated by a notch 110.
- a handle 112 is raised and a living hinge 114 allows the actuator 106 and locking projection 108 to rise, relative to the battery pack 10, while the parallel legs 104 are received in the battery pack grooves 18.
- the locking projection 108 moves up, over and past a leading, engaging surface 72 of the converting element 50 of the battery pack converting subsystem.
- an engaging surface 116 of the actuator 106 engages the engaging surface 72 of the converting element 50.
- the converter element 50 is forced further into the battery pack housing 12.
- the handle 112 of the lock 100 moves downward as the actuator 106 moves into a space of the through hole 30 vacated by the movement of the converter element 50.
- the locking projection 108 of the lock 100 moves into a notch or catch 70 of the converter element projection 58.
- the converter element 50 is placed in an intermediate position between the first operational (low rated voltage) position/configuration and the second operational (medium rated voltage) position/configuration.
- the battery pack 10 is configured to present a zero voltage.
- the sets of battery cells 34a, 34b are decoupled. In such a configuration, electrically speaking, the two switch contacts 60a (S1), 60B (S2) do not make mechanical and electrical contact with any of the contact pads 66.
- Figure 14 illustrates an alternate presentation of Figure 13 in which the switch contacts 60a, 60b do not make mechanical and electrical contact with the contact pads 66 and decouple the sets of battery cells 34a, 34b.
- Figure 15 illustrates an electrical circuit diagram which illustrates electrical switches (SW1, SW2) representative of the physical switches created by the switch contacts 60 and the contact pads 66.
- the power switch SW1 is opened (in an opened state) and when the switch contact 60b decouples the A+ contact pad 66 and the B+ contact pad 66 the power switch SW2 is opened (in an opened state) and as no switch contact couples the A-contact pad 66 to the B+ contact pad 66 the power switch SW3 is open (in an opened state).
- the A string (set) of battery cells 34a and the B string (set) of battery cells 34b are electrically disconnected by the switch network made up of power switches SW1, SW2 and SW3.
- switches SW1, SW2 and SW3 are all in an opened state. As illustrated in Figure 15 , this effectively electrically separates and isolates the A string of battery cells from the B string of battery cells. In addition, a zero voltage potential will exist between the BATT+ and BATT- battery terminals.
- the battery pack is configured to present a second (medium) rated voltage.
- the sets of battery cells 34a, 34b are coupled in series.
- the two switch contacts 60a (S1), 60B (S2) make mechanical and electrical contact with the contact pads 66 to couple the sets of battery cells 34a, 34b in series.
- Figure 17 illustrates an alternate presentation of Figure 16 in which the switch contacts 60a, 60b make mechanical and electrical contact with the contact pads 66 to couple the sets of battery cells 34a, 34b in series.
- Figure 18 illustrates an electrical circuit diagram which illustrates electrical switches (SW1, SW2) representative of the physical switches created by the switch contacts 60 and the contact pads 66.
- the power switch SW1 is open (in an opened state) and the switch contact 60b does not couple the A+ contact pad 66 and the B+ contact pad 66 the power switch SW2 is opend (in an opened state) and as the switch contact 60B couples the A- contact pad 66 to the B+ contact pad 66 the power switch SW3 is closed (in a closed state).
- the A string (set) of battery cells 34a and the B string (set) of battery cells 34b are electrically connected in series by the switch network made up of power switches SW1, SW2 and SW3.
- FIGs 19 - 28 illustrate operation of an alternate exemplary converting subsystem of an alternate exemplary battery pack 10 when engaged by a transport lock 10 similar to the transport lock of Figure 8 .
- This battery pack illustrated in Figures 19 - 28 may be placed in three configurations but is only capable of presenting a single rated voltages.
- the battery pack may be configured to present a first rated voltage wherein the two sets of battery cells are coupled in a first manner (in parallel), may be configured to present the same first rated voltage wherein the two sets of battery cells are coupled in the same manner (in parallel) but the converter element 50 is in a different location than in the first configuration, and may be configured to present a zero voltage wherein the two sets of battery cells are decoupled.
- the batteyr pack 10 includes a converting subsystem that converts from a first operational configuration (a first rated voltage) to an open state configuration (for transport) to a second operational configuration (also the first rated voltage).
- the transport lock 10 operates in the same manner as described above.
- the battery pack is in a first operational configuration and as such is configured to present a rated voltage.
- the sets of battery cells are coupled in parallel.
- the two switch contacts 60a (S1), 60B (S2) make mechanical and electrical contact with the contact pads 66 to couple the sets of battery cells 34a, 34b in parallel.
- Figure 21 illustrates an alternate presentation of Figure 20 in which the switch contacts 60a, 60b make mechanical and electrical contact with the contact pads 66 to couple the sets of battery cells 34a, 34b in parallel.
- Figure 22 illustrates an electrical circuit diagram which illustrates electrical switches (SW1, SW2) representative of the physical switches created by the switch contacts 60 and the contact pads 66.
- the switch contact 60a couples the first A- contact pad 66 and the B- contact pad 66 the power switch SW1 is closed (in a closed state) and when the swith contact 60b couples the first A+ contact pad 66 and the B+ contact pad 66 the power switch SW2 is closed (in a closed state).
- the A string (set) of battery cells 34a and the B string (set) of battery cells 34b are electrically connected in parallel by the switch network made up of power switches SW1 and SW2.
- the strings of cells 34a, 34b are electrically coupled by the contact switches 66a, 66b.
- the return springs 62 force the converter element 50 into this operational configuration.
- the battery pack is configured to present a zero voltage.
- the sets of battery cells 34a, 34b are decoupled.
- the two switch contacts 60a (S1), 60B (S2) do not make mechanical and electrical contact with any of the contact pads 66.
- Figure 24 illustrates an alternate presentation of Figure 23 in which the switch contacts 60a, 60b do not make mechanical and electrical contact with the contact pads 66 and decouple the sets of battery cells 34a, 34b.
- Figure 25 illustrates an electrical circuit diagram which illustrates electrical switches (SW1, SW2) representative of the physical switches created by the switch contacts 60 and the contact pads 66.
- the switch contact 60a decouples the first A- contact pad 66 and the B- contact pad 66 the power switch SW1 is opened (in an opened state) and when the switch contact 60b decouples the A+ contact pad 66 and the first B+ contact pad 66 the power switch SW2 is opened (in an opened state).
- the A string (set) of battery cells 34a and the B string (set) of battery cells 34b are electrically disconnected by the switch network made up of power switches SW1, SW2 and SW3.
- the battery pack is configured to present the first rated voltage.
- the sets of battery cells 34a, 34b are coupled in parallel.
- the two switch contacts 60a (S1), 60B (S2) make mechanical and electrical contact with the contact pads 66 to couple the sets of battery cells 34a, 34b in parallel.
- Figure 27 illustrates an alternate presentation of Figure 26 in which the switch contacts 60a, 60b make mechanical and electrical contact with the contact pads 66 to couple the sets of battery cells 34a, 34b in parallel.
- Figure 28 illustrates an electrical circuit diagram which illustrates electrical switches (SW1, SW2) representative of the physical switches created by the switch contacts 60 and the contact pads 66.
- the switch contact 60a couples the A- contact pad 66 and the B- contact pad 66 the power switch SW1 is closed (in a closed state) and the switch contact 60b couples the A+ contact pad 66 and the B+ contact pad 66 the power switch SW2 is closed (in a closed state).
- the A string (set) of battery cells 34a and the B string (set) of battery cells 34b are electrically connected in parallel by the switch network made up of power switches SW1 and SW2.
- Alternate exemplary embodiments may include other contact pad layouts and are contemplated and encompassed by the present disclosure. As noted above, these exemplary pad layouts may be supported on a PCB, a support board or some other support structure.
- FIG. 29 Another alternate exemplary embodiment of a coupler/transport lock (also referred to as a separator) is shown in Figure 29 .
- the separator is shown as a sliding member 54S, which preferably has at least one contact surface 54SS for contacting the projection(s) 54.
- the contact surface 54SS may move the projection(s) 54 from the first end of the through hole 42 to an intermediate position between the first and second ends of through hole 42.
- the switches SW1, SW2 are in an open state so that each string of battery cells has an energy equal to or less than 100 Watt-hours, as the different subsets A, B, C of cells 48 (C A1 -C A5 , C B1 -C B5 and C C1 -C C5 ) are electrically disconnected, thus complying with shipping regulations.
- sliding member 54S may have projections 54HL which engage holes 54H on battery pack 10.
- projections 54HL and holes 54H may be provided instead on battery pack 16 and sliding member 54S, respectively.
- sliding member 54S may have projections 54HL which engage holes 54H on battery pack 16.
- projections 54HL and holes 54H may be provided instead on battery pack 16 and sliding member 54S, respectively.
- FIGs 30-35 illustrate an alternate exemplary embodiment of a convertible battery pack 10" and a lock 100" that may be used in conjunction with the battery pack 10"for transport purposes.
- the battery pack 10" includes a first set of battery pack terminals
- a terminal coupler/decoupler 132S preferably has blades 132SB made of an electrically non-conductive or insulating material, such as a non-conductive plastic. Blades 132B can be inserted between (and thus separating) the tulip sections 192 of the conversion terminals 132b2, 132b3, 132b4, 132b5.
- blades 132SB are long enough that they extend beyond the tulip sections 192 and push against the contact section 194 of the associated conversion terminal 132b1, 132b6, so that the contact section 194 of the conversion terminals 132b1, 132b6 move toward the position shown in broken lines in Figure 36 . In such position, the contact section 194 of the conversion converting terminals 132b1, 132b6 do not contact the tulip sections 192 of each conversion terminal 132b2, 132b3, 132b4, 132b5. For example, blade 132SB would push the contact section 194 of the conversion terminal 132b6 away from tulip section 192 of the conversion terminal 132b5.
- battery pack 10 can be transported with terminal separator 132S in place. With such arrangement, battery pack 10" would comply with the shipping regulations as each battery cell has a power output equal to or less than 20 Watt-hours and the total power output of the battery pack to equal to or less than 100 Watt-hours per battery pack, as the different subsets of cells 32 (A1-A5, B1-B5 and C1-C5) are electrically disconnected.
- the end user needs only to remove terminal separator 132S from the housing of battery pack 10". This will allow the conversion terminals to contact and connect, allowing battery pack 10" to operate as discussed above.
- end user could re-install terminal separator 132S to separate the converting terminals as disclosed above, readying battery pack 10" for transportation.
- terminal separator 132S can be inserted by moving downwardly, i.e., in a direction of arrow C substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of rails 16 and grooves 18.
- an alternative terminal separator 132S may have extensions 132SR that can engage rails 16 and/or grooves 18.
- Such alternative terminal separator 132S may be inserted into the terminals by moving it along a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axes of rails 16 and grooves 18, so that the extensions 132SR can engage rails 16 and/or grooves 18.
- blades 132SB would contact and push downward the contact section 194 of the associated conversion terminal 132b1, 132b6, so that the contact section 194 of the conversion terminals 132b1, 132b6 move toward the position shown in broken lines in Figure 36 . In such position, the contact section 194 of the conversion converting terminals 132b1, 132b6 do not contact the tulip sections 192 of each conversion terminal 132b2, 132b3, 132b4, 132b5. Blades 132SB would also preferably separate) the tulip sections 192 of the conversion terminals 132b2, 132b3, 132b4, 132b5.
- FIGs 37 - 52 illustrate an alternate exemplary embodiment of a convertible battery pack 10' and a transport lock 100' that may be used in conjunction with the battery pack 10"for transport purposes.
- the battery pack 10' is very similar to the battery pack 10 illustrated in Figures 1-18 and described above, except that the battery pack 10' includes three strings (sets) of battery cells 34 and includes additional switches SW4, SW5, SW6.
- the converter element 50' operates very similarly to the converter element 50 of battery pack 10.
- the transport lock or cap 100' places the battery pack 10' in an open state such that it is in neither a low rated voltage configuration or state (20V mode) nor a medium rated voltage configuration or state (60V mode) very similarly to the transport lock 100 described above.
- the conversion from the low rated voltage state (20V mode) to the medium rated voltage state (60V mode) is the same as described above and is implemented by movement of the converter element 50'.
- operation of the battery pack 10' described in this embodiment is very similar to the battery pack 10 described above with reference to Figures 1 -18 .
- the transport lock 100' illustrated in Figures 44 - 48 slides onto the battery pack 10' in a manner similar to the transport lock 100 described above.
- the transport lock 100' indues a pair of locking arms 122 that are connected to an underside of the cover plate 102' by a living hinge 114'.
- the locking arms 122 include a rail that is received in the battery groove 18.
- the locking arm 122 includes a locking projection 126 that extends from the locking arm 122 towards the battery pack 10'.
- the transport lock 100' also includes a conversion projection 106' that engages and pushes the converter element projection 58.
- the transport lock 100' also includes a catch 120 for receiving the battery pack latch 20 for locking the transport lock 100' to the battery pack 10'.
- Figures 46A, 46B, 46C , 47A, 47B and 48 illustrate the transport lock 100' mated to the battery pack 10' thereby placing the battery pack 10' into the transportation configuration.
- the transport lock 100' moves the direction A and mates with the battery pack 10', the rails of the locking arms 122 move into the grooves 18 of the battery pack 10' and the conversion projections 106' move into the raceways 28 of the battery pack 10' and engage the push arms 74 of the converter element projections 58.
- the converter element 50 moves the switch contacts 60 out of engagement with the contact pads 66, as described above, decoupling the strings of battery cells 34 thereby placing the battery pack 10' into the transport configuration.
- the battery rail shoulder 36 engages the locking arm 122 forcing the locking arm 122 to rotate about the connection point of the living hinge 114' and forces the locking projection 126 to press on the converter element projection 58 which in turn forces the converter element projection 58 to press on the converter element PCB 64 creating a frictional force between the converter element 50 and the PCB 64 to assist keeping the converter element 50 in the transport configuration.
- the battery pack 10' when the transport lock 100' is mated with the battery pack 10' the battery pack 10' is configured to present a zero voltage.
- the sets of battery cells 34a, 34b are decoupled.
- the four switch contacts 60a (S1), 60b (S2), 60c (S3), 60d (S4) do not make mechanical and electrical contact with any of the contact pads 66.
- Figure 50 illustrates an electrical circuit diagram which illustrates electrical switches (SW1, SW2, SW3, SW4) representative of the physical switches created by the switch contacts 60 and the contact pads 66.
- the switch contact 60a, 60b, 60c and 60d are moved along with the converter element 50 the A- contact pad 66 is decoupled from the B- contact pad 66, the A- contact pad 66 is decoupled from the C- contact 66, the C+ contact pad 66 is decoupled from the B+ contact pad 66 and the C+ contact pad 66 is decoupled from the A+ contact pad 66 effectively causing the power switch SW1 to open (in an opened state), the power switch SW2 to open (in an opened state), the power switch SW3 to open (in an opened state) and the power switch SW4 to open (in an opened state) and as no switch contact couples the A+ contact pad 66 to the B- contact pad 66 and no switch contact couples B+ contact pad 66 to the C- contact pad 66, the power switches SW5 and SW6 are open (in an opened
- the A string (set) of battery cells 34a, the B string (set) of battery cells 34b, and the C string (set) of battery cells 34c are electrically disconnected by the switch network made up of power switches SW1, SW2, SW3, SW4, SW5, and SW6.
- the battery pack is configured to present a second (medium) rated voltage.
- the sets of battery cells 34a, 34b, 34c are coupled in series.
- the four switch contacts 60a (S1), 60b (S2), 60c (S3), 60d (S4) make mechanical and electrical contact with the contact pads 66 to couple the sets of battery cells 34a, 34b, 34c in series.
- Figure 52 illustrates an electrical circuit diagram which illustrates electrical switches (SW1, SW2, SW3, SW4) are representative of the physical switches created by the switch contacts 60 and the contact pads 66.
- the switch contact 60a does not couple the A+ contact pad 66 and the C+ contact pad 66
- the switch contact 60b does not couopled the C+ contact pad and the B+ contact pad
- the switch contact 60c does not couple the A- contact pad 66 and the C- contact pad 66
- the switch contact 60d does not couple the A- contact pad 66 and the B- contact pad 66
- the power switch SW1 is open (in an opened state)
- the power switch SW2 is open (in an opened state)
- the power switch SW3 is open (in an opened state)
- the power switch SW4 is open (in an opened state).
- the switch contact 60b couples the C- contact pad 66 to the B+ contact pad 66 the power switch SW6 is closed (in a closed state) and as the switch contact 60d couples the A+ contact pad 66 to the B+ contact pad 66 the power switch SW5 is closed (in a closed state).
- the A string (set) of battery cells 34a, the B string (set) of battery cells 34b, and the C string (set) of battery cells 34c are electrically connected in series by the switch network made up of power switches SW1, SW2, SW3, SW4, SW5, and SW6.
- FIG 53A1 illustrates an alternate exemplary embodiment of a battery pack 500.
- the battery pack 500 includes two strings (sets) of battery cells 534a, 534b. Each string - the A string and the B string - includes five battery cells 532 connected in series. Each string of battery cells 534 has a positive terminal 536 and a negative terminal 538. In alternate embodiments, the battery pack 500 may include more strings of battery cells and each string may include fewer or more battery cells.
- the battery pack 500 includes a housing 512 that holds the battery cells 532.
- the battery pack 500 also includes a cell holder that maintains the position of each battery cell 532 relative to the other battery cells.
- the battery pack 500 also includes a battery pack terminal block 540.
- the battery pack terminal block 540 houses a plurality (set) of battery pack terminals 550.
- the plurality of battery pack terminals 550 includes a positive battery pack terminal corresponding to each string of battery cells and a negative terminal corresponding to each string of battery cells.
- the battery pack terminals 550 are electrically coupled to a corresponding terminal of the string of battery cells. More specifically, the positive A string battery pack terminal 550a is electrically connected to the positive terminal of the A string of battery cells 536a, the positive B string battery pack terminal 550b is electrically connected to the positive terminal of the B string of battery cells 536b, the negative A string battery pack terminal 550c is electrically connected to the negative terminal of the A string of cells 538a and the negative B string battery pack terminal 550d is electrically connected to the negative terminal of the B string of battery cells 538b. Furthermore, in a default state the positive battery pack terminals 550a, 550b are electrically connected to each other and the negative battery pack terminals 550c, 550d are electrically connected to each other.
- the positive terminals and the negative terminals may be formed in a tulip contacts configuration. Other configurations are contemplated by this disclosure.
- the positive A string battery pack terminal 550a is electrically connected to the positive B string battery pack terminals 550b and the negative A string battery pack terminal 550c is electrically connected to the negative B string battery pack terminal 550d.
- the two strings of battery cells 534 are connected to each other in parallel. This configuration is referred to as a coupled configuration or a working configuration.
- a transport coupler/lock such as an insulator 560 is mated to the battery pack terminal block 540.
- the insulator 560 may be housed in a housing 562.
- the insulator 560 is made of any insulating material and shaped to extend from the coupler housing 562 and be inserted between the positive battery pack terminals 550a, 550b and the negative battery pack terminals 550c, 550d.
- a power tool terminal block 568 housing the power terminals 570 of the power tool 566 mate with the corresponding battey pack terminals 550 to provide power from the battery pack 500 to the tool 566.
- the strings of battery cells are electrically connected to each of in parallel.
- Figure 54 illustrates an alternate exemplary embodiment of a battery pack 600 and an alternate exemplary transport coupler/cap for use in conjunction with the battery pack 600.
- Figure 54A1 illustrates the battery pack 600 mated to an electrical device (power tool) 610.
- the battery pack 600 includes a battery pack interface 602 that is configured to mate with a corresponding power tool interface 604.
- the interfaces 602, 604 may comprise a set of mating rails and grooves.
- the battery pack also includes a terminal block 606 for housing a set of battery pack terminals 607.
- the power tool also includes a terminal block 608 for housing a set of tool terminals 609.
- the battery pack terminal block 606 and battery pack terminals 607 are configured to mate with the tool terminal block 608 and tool terminals 609, as is well known in the art.
- the battery pack 600 includes battery cells and strings of battery cells similar to the battery cells and strings of battery cells described with regard to Figure 53 .
- the battery pack also includes a battery pack latch 620 for latching to the electrical device 610 and a compression spring 618 that forces the latch 620 to extend at least partially out of the battery pack housing 612 to be received by a corresponding catch 626 of a power tool 610. This is referred to as the up position.
- the battery pack 600 also includes a first switch contact 622a attached to a first side of the battery pack latch 620 and a second switch contact 622b attached to a second side of the battery pack latch 620, the second side being opposed to the first side. Both sides of the latch 620 are located within the battery pack housing.
- the battery pack 600 also includes a positive A string contact pad 616a, a positive B string contact pad 616b, a negative A string contact pad 616c, and a negative B string contact pad 616d.
- the positive contact pads 616a, 616b are fixed to a first interior surface of the battery pack housing 612 adjacent to the first side of the battery pack latch 620 and the negative contact pads 616c, 616d are fixed to a second interior surface of the batteyr pack housing 612 adjacent to the second side of the battery pack latch 620.
- the positive contact pads 616a, 616b are positioned relative to each other such that they do not touch each other but so that they mate with the first switch contact 622a when the latch is in the up position and the negative contact pads 616c, 616d are positioned relative to each other such that they not touch each other but so that they mate with the second switch contact 622b when the latch is in the up position.
- the battery pack 600 is mated to the power tool 610 and the latch 620 is in the up position received in the power tool catch.
- the positive switch contact 622a couples the positive contact pads 616a, 616b effectively closing a switch SW2 between a positive A string terminal 550a and a positive B string terminal 550b
- the negative switch contact 622b couples the negative contact pads 616c, 616d effectively closing a switch SW1 between a negative A string terminal 550c and a negative B string terminal 550d the corresponding contact pads 616a, 616b, 616c, 616d.
- a transport lock or cap 630 is attached to the battery pack 600.
- the cap 630 includes a connector 632 for connecting the cap to the battery pack housing 612.
- the connector 632 comprises a set of legs and receiving catches to allow the cap 630 to be snapped onto the battery pack 600.
- the cap 630 has an interior cavity that receives the battery pack terminal block and latch 620. The interior height of the interior cavity is such that when the cap 630 is attached to the battery pack 600 an interior surface of the interior cavity forces the latch 618 into the battery pack housing 612 against the force of the spring 618.
- FIG. 54B3 illustrates the open switches SW1, SW2 between the string terminals.
- Figures 55 - 60 illustrate an alternate example of a shipping system for a battery pack.
- the battery pack includes a screw (or an equivalent component) that is received by the battery housing.
- the screw may be placed in two positions. A first, up or extended position in which the screw extends from the housing but is still held by the housing and a second down or inserted position in which the screw is screwed into the housing and lies generally flush with an outer surface of the housing.
- the battery includes a lead coupled to a positive terminal of each of three strings of battery cells (an A string, a B string and a C string of battery cells). Each of the leads is also connected to discrete contact.
- the screw is also coupled to a discrete contact. This screw contact is coupled to the BATT+ battery terminal.
- SW3 when the screw is in the up position the connection between the BATT+ battery terminal and the A+ contact/lead (SW3) is open, the connection between the A+ contact/lead and the B+ contact/lead (SW2) is open and the connection between the B+ contact/lead (SW1) is open.
- the strings of battery cells are electrically disconnected and isolated from each other.
- FIGS 61 - 63 illustrate an alternate example of a battery pack 800 and a transport coupler for use in conjunction with the battery pack 800.
- the battery pack 800 includes a housing 812.
- the housing 812 houses a plurality of battery cells, as described above.
- the battery cells are connected in series in a string of battery cells, as described above.
- the battery pack 800 may include two or more strings of battery cells.
- Each string of cells may include two or more battery cells.
- each string of battery cells has a positive terminal and a negative terminal.
- each positive string terminal is electrically connected to a terminal node 816.
- the battery pack 800 includes a cell interconnect (also referred to as a cell strap) 820 that connects the terminal nodes 816.
- the connection between the terminal nodes 816 and the cell interconnect 820 effectively operates as a switch (SW1, SW2).
- the battey pack 800 includes a pull tab 824 positioned between the cell interconnect 820 and the terminal nodes 816.
- the pull tab 824 is made of an insulating material and effectively opens the switch between the terminal nodes 816 and the cell interconnect 820. As illustrated in Figure 61A , the pull tab 824 extends from inside the battery pack housing 812 to outside the battery pack housing 812. A user may pull the pull tab 824 to remove it from between the terminal nodes 816 and the cell interconnect 820. Once the pull tab 824 is removed (in the direction of arrow C) by a user the cell interconnect 820 will electrically couple with the terminal nodes 816 effectively closing the switches SW1, SW2.
- Figure 62 illustrates a simplified circuit diagram of the strings of cells 834a, 834b, 834c and the switches SW1, SW2 connecting the string terminals.
- the pull tab 824 is positioned between the terminal nodes 816 and the cell interconnect 820 so that the switches SW1 and SW2 are open and the strings of cells are decoupled/disconnected.
- Figure 63 illustrates the simplified circuit diagram of the strings of cells 834a, 834b, 834c and the switches SW1, SW.
- the pull tab 824 has been removed (in the direction of arrow C) from between the terminal nodes 816 and the cell interconnect 820 so that the switches SW1 and SW2 are closed and the strings of cells are coupled/connected.
- FIGS 64-65 illustrate an alternate example of a battery pack 800' and a transport coupler for use in conjunction with the battery pack 800'.
- the battery pack 800' includes a housing 812'.
- the housing 812' houses a plurality of battery cells, as described above.
- the battery cells are connected in series in a string of battery cells, as described above.
- the battery pack 800' may include two or more strings of battery cells.
- Each string of cells may include two or more battery cells.
- each string of battery cells has a positive terminal and a negative terminal.
- each positive string terminal is electrically connected to a terminal node 816'.
- the battery pack 800' includes a cell interconnect (also referred to as a cell strap) 820' that connects the terminal nodes 816'.
- a cell interconnect also referred to as a cell strap
- the connection between the terminal nodes 816' and the cell interconnect 820' effectively operates as a switch (SW1, SW2).
- the battey pack 800' includes a pair of pull tab 824a', 824b' positioned between the cell interconnect 820' and the terminal nodes 816'.
- the pull tabs 824a', 824b' are made of an insulating material and effectively open the switch between the terminal nodes 816' and the cell interconnect 820'. As illustrated in Figure 64A , the pull tabs 824a', 824b' extend from inside the battery pack housing 812' to outside the battery pack housing 812'.
- a user may pull the pull tabs 824a', 824b' to remove them from between the terminal nodes 816' and the cell interconnect 820'. Once the pull tabs 824a', 824b' are removed (in the direction of arrow C) by a user the cell interconnect 820' will electrically couple with the terminal nodes 816 or an adjacent cell interconnect 820' effectively closing the switches SW1, SW2.
- Figure 64C illustrates a simplified circuit diagram of the strings of cells 834a, 834b, 834c and the switches SW1, SW2 connecting the string terminals.
- the pull tabs 824a', 824b' is positioned between the terminal nodes 816' and the cell interconnect 820' so that the switches SW1 and SW2 are open and the strings of cells are decoupled/disconnected.
- Figure 65C illustrates the simplified circuit diagram of the strings of cells 834a, 834b, 834c and the switches SW1, SW.
- the pull tabs 824a', 824b' have been removed (in the direction of arrow C) from between the terminal nodes 816' and the cell interconnect 820' so that the switches SW1 and SW2 are closed and the strings of cells are coupled/connected.
- battery pack 810' complies with the shipping regulations as each battery cell has an energy equal to or less than 20 Watt-hours and the energy of the battery pack equal to or less than 100 Watt-hours, as the different strings A, B, C of cells 48 (C A1 -C A5 , C B1 -C B5 and C C1 -C C5 ) are electrically and/or mechanically disconnected.
- the end user needs only to remove pull tabs 824a', 824b' from the housing 812' of battery pack 810'. This will allow the contacts and connecting straps 820a', 820b' to close and operate as discussed above.
- Figures 66 and 67 illustrate an alternate transport solution for the battery pack shown in Figure 61A . Similar to the example illustrated in Figures 64 and 65 , this example includes pull tabs to decouple (separate) and couple (connect) cell interconnects to decouple and couple the strings of cells. In such an example, each cell 32 has an energy equal to or less than 20 Watt-hours.
- the temporary coupler When positioned in the exemplary battery pack 800" as illustrated in Figures 66a and 66b , the temporary couplerincludes four pull tabs SS1, SS2, SS3 and SS4 (instead of two pull tabs as described with respect to Figures 64 and 65 ).
- pull tabs SS1, SS2, SS3 and SS4 are made of an insulating (non-conductive) material and decouple the interconnects PS so that electricity cannot flow between the strings of cells. As shown in Figures 66A-66B , the pull tabs SS1, SS2, SS3 and SS4 extend outside of the housing of battery pack 800".
- Figure 67A illustrates a simplified circuit diagram of the battery of Figure 66 wherein the pull tabs are positioned between the interconnects and as such there is an open switch between the positive and negative terminals of the strings of battery cells. More specifically, positioning the pull tab SS1 between the interconnect PS1 and the interconnect PS2 disconnects the positive terminal of the C string of cells and the positive terminal of the B string of cells thereby effectively opening the switch SW2 between the positive terminal of the C string of cells and the positive terminal of the B string of cells.
- battery pack 800" complies with the shipping regulations as each battery cell has an energy equal to or less than 20 Watt-hours and the total energy of the battery pack being equal to or less than 100 Watt-hours per battery pack, as the different subsets A, B, C of cells 48 (C A1 -C A5 , C B1 -C B5 and C C1 -C C5 ) are electrically disconnected.
- Figure 67B illustrates a simplified circuit diagram of the battery of Figure 66 wherein the pull straps are removed from between the interconnects and as such there is a closed switch between the positive and negative terminals of the strings of battery cells. More specifically, removing the pull tab SS1 from between the interconnect PS1 and the interconnect PS2 connects the positive terminal of the C string of cells and the positive terminal of the B string of cells thereby effectively closing the switch SW2 between the positive terminal of the C string of cells and the positive terminal of the B string of cells.
- Removing the pull tab SS3 from between the interconnect PS4 and the interconnect PS5 connects the negative terminal of the C string of cells and the negative terminal of the B string of cells thereby effectively closing the switch SW4 between the negative terminal of the C string of cells and the negative terminal of the B string of cells.
- Removing the pull tab SS2 from between the interconnect PS2 and the interconnect 68 connects the positive terminal of the B string of cells and the positive terminal of the A string of cells thereby effectively closing the switch SW1 between the positive terminal of the B string of cells and the positive terminal of the A string of cells.
- Removing the pull tab SS4 from between the interconnect PS5 and the interconnect 69 connects the negative terminal of the B string of cells and the negative terminal of the A string of cells thereby effectively closing the switch SW3 between the negative terminal of the B string of cells and the negative terminal of the A string of cells.
- each different subset A, B, C of cells 48 (C A1 -C A5 , C B91 -C B5 and C C1 -C C5 ) could be a separate UN38.3 tested sub-assembly, instead of discrete cells or cell sets combined into a larger battery pack for testing.
- FIGs 72 and 73 illustrate an alternate example of a battery pack 900 and a transport coupler for use in conjunction with the battery pack 900.
- the battery pack 900 includes two strings (sets) of battery cells 934a, 934b. Each string - the A string and the B string - includes five battery cells 932 connected in series. Each string of battery cells 934 has a positive terminal 936 and a negative terminal 938. In alternate examples, the battery pack 900 may include more strings of battery cells and each string may include fewer or more battery cells.
- the battery pack 900 includes a housing 912 that holds the battey cells 932.
- the battery pack 900 also includes a cell holder that maintains the position of each battery cell 932 relative to the other battery cells.
- the battery pack 900 also includes a battery pack terminal block 940.
- the battery pack terminal block 940 houses a plurality (set) of battery pack terminals 950.
- the plurality of battery pack terminals 950 includes a pair of positive battery pack terminal corresponding to each string of battery cells and a pair of negative terminal corresponding to each string of battery cells.
- the battery pack terminals 950 are electrically coupled to a corresponding terminal of the string of battery cells. More specifically, the positive A string battery pack terminals 950a are electrically connected to the positive terminal of the A string of battery cells 936a, the positive B string battery pack terminals 950b are electrically connected to the positive terminal of the B string of battery cells 936b, the negative A string battery pack terminals 950c are electrically connected to the negative terminal of the A string of cells 938a and the negative B string battery pack terminals 950d are electrically connected to the negative terminal of the B string of battery cells 938b.
- the positive battery pack terminals 550a, 550b are electrically uncoupled/disconnected to each other and the negative battery pack terminals 550c, 550d are electrically uncoupled/disconnected to each other.
- the individual strings of cells 934 are not coupled (uncoupled/disconnected) to each other and as such the battery pack has a lower power capacity than if the strings of cells 934 are coupled to each other.
- the positive terminals and the negative terminals may be formed in a tulip contacts configuration. Other configurations are contemplated by this disclosure.
- a pair of tool terminals 970a, 970b mate with corresponding battery pack terminals 950.
- a positive tool terminal 970a mates with and electrically couples the positive A string battery pack terminal 950a and the positive B string battery pack terminal 950b
- a negative tool terminal 970b mates with and electrically couples the negative A string battery pack terminal 950c and the negative B string battery pack terminal 950d.
- the tool terminals 970 effectively serve as power switches SW1, SW2 between the terminals of the strings of battery cells.
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Description
- This application relates to rechargeable battery packs and systems for transporting the battery packs.
- Conventional rechargeable battery packs include Li-Ion battery cells. Due to the nature of the chemistry of these battery packs, the United States and many other countries and international bodies, including the United Nations, have implemented special rules directed to the shipping of Li-Ion batteries. If a battery or battery pack exceeds these limits there are additional fees and shipping costs for shipping the battery pack. As such, there is an interest in keeping the Watt-hour levels below the 100 Wh limits. Today, it is common for Li-Ion batteries already exceed these limits. As battery power and capacity increases it will become more common for batteries to exceed these limits. As such, there is a great desire to keep the battery packs below these limits.
- Typically, shipping regulations pose limitations how much energy is disposed in a battery pack. For example, some regulations require that each cell have an energy equal to or less than 20 Watt-hours, and that each battery pack has an energy limit equal to or less than 100 Watt-hours . It is preferable to provide a solution that can maximize the energy available to the end user while complying with shipping regulations. Preferably, a temporary separator could be used to separate components of the battery pack, thus opening the battery pack circuit, limiting the energy output.
-
EP 3273 569 A1 forms part of the state of the art according to Article 54(3) EPC and discloses the pre-characterising portion ofclaim 1.US2012/071711 A1 discloses battery packs for use with surgical instruments. The battery packs comprise a plurality of cells and the plurality of cells are not be electrically connected to one another. The battery packs comprise a switch for interconnecting the plurality of cells. - Implementations of the technologies disclosed herein may include one or more of the following features. Battery packs, for example rechargeable battery packs for power tools typically include two or more strings (also referred to as "sets") of cells that are connected to each other in parallel. Each string may include one or more cells. If a string of cells includes, for example five battery cells and each cell has a rated voltage of four (4) volts and a rated capacity of five (5) Amp-hours the string of cells will have a power rating of one hundred (100) Watt-hours - 4V x 5 Ah x 5 cells. The two strings of cells, whether connected in series or parallel, will have a power rating of 200 Whr. Such a battery pack would exceed the aforementioned limits and require special shipping.
- The present invention enables the battery pack to be placed in a configuration that isolates the strings of cells from each other such that the battery pack does not include a battery that exceeds the 100 Whr. limit set by the aforementioned rules.
- Advantages may include one or more of the following.
- Other advantages and features will be apparent from the description, the drawings, and the claims.
-
- Figures 1A, 1B and 1C are various views of an exemplary embodiment of a battery pack.
-
Figure 2 is a partial view of an exemplary embodiment of a converting subsystemof the battery pack ofFigure 1 . -
Figure 3 is a plan view of the exemplary converting subsystem of the battery pack ofFigure 1 . -
Figure 4 is a plan view of an exemplary embodiment of a converting element of the converting subsystem ofFigure 2 . -
Figure 5 is a plan view of the converting subsystem ofFigure 3 in a first operational (low rated voltage) configuration. -
Figure 6 is a simple block diagram of the battery pack converting subsystem corresponding toFigure 5 in the first operational (low rated voltage) configuration and a simple circuit diagram of the strings of battery cells of the battery pack ofFigure 1 . -
Figure 7 is a simple circuit diagram of the battery of the battery pack ofFigure 1 in the first operational (low rated voltage) configuration ofFigure 5 . -
Figures 8A, 8B, 8C and 8D are views of an exemplary transport coupler/lock for use with the exemplary battery pack ofFigure 1 . -
Figure 9 is a perspective view of the exemplary transport coupler/lock ofFigure 8 and the exemplary battery pack ofFigure 1 . - Figures 10A and 10B are views of the transport coupler/lock of
Figure 8 and the battery pack ofFigure 1 in a disengaged state. - Figure 11A and 11B are views of the transport coupler/lock of
Figure 8 and the battery pack ofFigure 1 in an engaged state. -
Figure 12 is a cross sectional view of the transport coupler/lock and the battery pack ofFigure 11 . -
Figure 13 is a picture view of the converting subsystem ofFigure 3 in a second operational (transport) configuration.Figure 14 is a simple block diagram of the battery pack converting subsystem corresponding toFigure 13 in the second operational (transport) configuration and a simple circuit diagram of the strings of battery cells of the battery pack ofFigure 1 . -
Figure 15 is a simple circuit diagram of the battery cells of the battery pack ofFigure 1 in the transport configuration ofFigure 13 . -
Figure 16 is a picture view of the converting subsystem ofFigure 3 in a second operational (medium rated voltage) configuration. -
Figure 17 is a simple block diagram of the battery pack converting subsystem ofFigure 16 in the second operational (medium rated voltage) configuration and a simple circuit diagram of the battery cells of the battery pack ofFigure 1 . -
Figure 18 is a simple circuit diagram of the battery cells of the battery pack ofFigure 1 in the second operational (medium rated voltage) configuration ofFigure 16 . -
Figure 19 an alternate exemplary embodiment of a converting subsystem of an alternate exemplary convertible battery pack ofFigure 1 . -
Figure 20 is a picture view of the converting subsystem ofFigure 19 in a first operational configuration. -
Figure 21 is a simple block diagram of the battery pack converting subsystem ofFigure 20 in the first operational configuration and a simple circuit diagram of the battery cells of the battery pack ofFigure 1 . -
Figure 22 is a simple circuit diagram of the battery cells of the battery pack ofFigure 1 in the first operational configuration ofFigure 20 . -
Figure 23 is a picture view of the converting subsystem ofFigure 19 in a transport configuration. -
Figure 24 is a simple block diagram of the battery pack converting subsystem ofFigure 23 in the transport configuration and a simple circuit diagram of the battery cells of the battery pack ofFigure 1 . -
Figure 25 is a simple circuit diagram of the battery cells of the battery pack ofFigure 1 in the transport configuration ofFigure 23 . -
Figure 26 is a picture view of the converting subsystem ofFigure 19 in a second operational configuration. -
Figure 27 is a simple block diagram of the battery pack converting subsystem ofFigure 26 in the second operational configuration and a simple circuit diagram of the battery cells of the battery pack ofFigure 1 . -
Figure 28 is a simple circuit diagram of the battery cells of the battery pack ofFigure 1 in the second operational configuration ofFigure 26 . -
Figure 29 is a view of an exemplary coupler for use with an exemplary convertible battery pack. -
Figure 30 is an alternate exemplary embodiment of a set of battery pack terminals of a convertible battery pack. -
Figure 31 is a simple circuit diagram of the battery cells of the battery pack ofFigure 30 in a first operational (low rated voltage) configuration. -
Figure 32 is a picture view of the set of battery pack terminals of the convertible battery pack ofFigure 30 in an open state. -
Figures 33A and 33B are picture views of an alternate exemplary embodiment of a coupler for use with the exemplary set of battery pack terminals ofFigure 32 . -
Figure 34 is a simple circuit diagram of the battery cells of the battery pack ofFigure 30 in a transport configuration. -
Figure 35 is a simple circuit diagram of the battery cells of the battery pack ofFigure 30 in a second operational (medium rated voltage) configuration. -
Figure 36 is a view of an alternate exemplary embodiment of a coupler for use with the exemplary set of battery pack terminals ofFigure 32 . -
Figures 37A, 37B, and 37C are various views of another example of a convertible battery pack. -
Figures 38A and 38B are section views taken fromFigure 37B . -
Figure 39 is a pictorial of a terminal block and the converter element of the exemplary battery pack ofFigure 37 . -
Figure 40 is a pictorial of the converter element of the exemplary battery pack ofFigure 37 in a first position. -
Figure 41 is a partial schematic/partial pictorial illustration of terminal connections in the exemplary convertible battery pack ofFigure 37 . -
Figure 42 is a pictorial of an underside of the converter element of the exemplary battery pack ofFigure 37 . -
Figure 43 is a schematic diagram of the exemplary convertible battery pack ofFigure 37 in a first operational mode. -
Figures 44A, 44B, 44C , and44D are various views of another example of a transport lock. -
Figures 45A and 45B are section views taken fromFigure 44B . -
Figure 46A is a perspective view,Figure 46B is a top view, andFigure 46C is a side view of the exemplary convertible battery pack ofFigure 37 mated with the exemplary transport lock ofFigure 44 . -
Figures 47A and 47B are section views taken fromFigure 46B . -
Figure 48 is a schematic diagram of the exemplary convertible battery pack ofFigure 37 in a second operational mode. -
Figure 49 is a pictorial of the converter element of the exemplary battery pack ofFigure 37 in a second position. -
Figure 50 is a pictorial section view of the exemplary battery pack mated to the exemplary transport lock. -
Figure 51 is a pictorial of the converter element of the exemplary battery pack ofFigure 37 in a third position. -
Figure 52 is a schematic diagram of the exemplary convertible battery pack ofFigure 37 in a third operational mode. -
Figures 53A, 53B, and 53C are an exemplary battery pack and an exemplary transport system. -
Figures 54A and 54B are another exemplary battery pack and another exemplary transport system. -
Figure 55 is an alternate exemplary embodiment of a battery pack including an alternate exemplary embodiment of a transport system. -
Figure 56 is picture views of a battery of the exemplary battery pack and transport system ofFigure 55 . -
Figure 57 is a picture view of the transport system ofFigure 56 in the transport configuration. -
Figure 58 is a simple circuit diagram of the battery cells of the battery pack ofFigure 1 in the transport configuration ofFigure 57 . -
Figure 59 is a picture view of the transport system ofFigure 55 in the operational configuration. -
Figure 60 is a simple circuit diagram of the battery cells of the battery pack ofFigure 1 in the operational configuration ofFigure 59 -
Figure 61 is an alternate exemplary embodiment of a battery pack including an alternate exemplary embodiment of a transport system. -
Figure 62 is a simple circuit diagram of the battery cells of the battery pack ofFigure 61 in an operational configuration. -
Figure 63 is a simple circuit diagram of the battery cells of the battery pack ofFigure 61 in a transport configuration. -
Figure 64A is a partial perspective view of an alternate exemplary battery of the battery pack ofFigure 61A incorporating an alternate exemplary transport coupler;Figure 64B is a section view along line X-X ofFigure 64A ; andFigure 64C is a circuit diagrm of the battery pack ofFigure 64A . -
Figure 65A is a partial perspective view of the exemplary battery and transport coupler ofFigure 64A with a part of the transport coupler removed;Figure 65B is a section view along line Y-Y ofFigure 65A ; andFigure 65C is a circuit diagram of the battery packFigure 65A . -
Figure 66 is a circuit diagram of another alternative exemplary embodiment of the convertible battery ofFigure 1 incorporating another exemplary transport coupler. -
Figure 66A and Figure 66B are perspective views of an exemplary battery pack incorporating an alternate exemplary transport coupler. -
Figure 67A is a simplified circuit diagram of the battery pack ofFigures 66A and 66B andFigure 67B is a simplified circuit diagram of the battery pack ofFigures 66A and 66B with a part of the transport coupler removed. -
Figure 68 is a view of an alternate exemplary embodiment of a converting subsystem in a first operational (transport) configuration. -
Figure 69 is a view of the converting subsystem ofFigure 68 in a second operational (low rated voltage) configuration. -
Figure 70 is a view of the converting subsystem ofFigure 68 in a third operational (decoupled) configuration. -
Figure 71 is a view of the converting subsystem ofFigure 68 in a fourth operational (medium rated voltage) configuration. -
Figure 72A1 is a top view of an alternate exemplary embodiment of a battery pack incorporating an alternate exemplary embodiment of a transport coupler in a first operational (decoupled) configuration;Figure 72A2 is a first side view of the battery pack ofFigure 72A1; Figure 72A3 is a second side view of the battery pack ofFigure 72A1; Figure 72A4 is a simplified circuit diagram of the battery pack ofFigure 72A1 . -
Figure 73A1 is a top view of the battery pack ofFigure 72 mated with an electrical device and in a second operational (coupled) configuration;Figure 73A2 is a first side view of the battery pack ofFigure 73A1; Figure 73A3 is a second side view of the battery pack ofFigure 73A1; 73A4 is a simplified circuit diagram of the battery pack ofFigure 73A1 . -
Figure 74A1 is a first side view of an alternate exemplary embodiment of a battery pack incorporating an alternate exemplary embodiment of a transport coupler in a first operational (decoupled) configuration;Figure 74A2 is a second side view of the battery pack and transport coupler ofFigure 74A1; Figure 74A3 is a simplified circuit diagram of the battery pack ofFigure 74A1; Figure 74B1 is a first side view of the battery pack ofFigure 74A1 in a second operational (activation) configuration;Figure 74B2 is a second side view of the battery pack ofFigure 74A2; Figure 74B3 is a simplified circuit diagram of the battery pack ofFigure 74B1 ;Figure 74C1 is a first side view of the battery pack ofFigure 74A1 in a third operational (coupled) configuration;Figure 74C2 is a second side view of the battery pack ofFigure 74A2 ; andFigure 74C3 is a simplified circuit diagram of the battery pack ofFigure 74C1 . -
Figure 75A1 is a first side view of an alternate exemplary embodiment of a battery pack incorporating an alternate exemplary embodiment of a transport coupler in a first operational (decoupled) configuration;Figure 75A2 is a second side view of the battery pack and transport coupler ofFigure 75A1; Figure 75A3 is a simplified circuit diagram of the battery pack ofFigure 75A1; Figure 75B1 is a first side view of the battery pack ofFigure 75A1 in a second operational (coupled) configuration;Figure 75B2 is a second side view of the battery pack ofFigure 75A2; Figure 75B3 is a simplified circuit diagram of the battery pack ofFigure 75B1 -
Figure 76A1 is a first side view of an alternate exemplary embodiment of a battery pack incorporating an alternate exemplary embodiment of a transport coupler in a first operational (decoupled) configuration;Figure 76A2 is a second side view of the battery pack and transport coupler ofFigure 76A1; Figure 76A3 is a simplified circuit diagram of the battery pack ofFigure 76A1; Figure 76B1 is a first side view of the battery pack ofFigure 76A1 in a second operational (coupled) configuration;Figure 76B2 is a second side view of the battery pack ofFigure 76A2; Figure 76B3 is a simplified circuit diagram of the battery pack ofFigure 76B1 . -
Figure 77A1 is a first side view of an alternate exemplary embodiment of a battery pack incorporating an alternate exemplary embodiment of a transport coupler in a first operational (decoupled) configuration;Figure 77A2 is a second side view of the battery pack and transport coupler ofFigure 77A1; Figure 77A3 is a simplified circuit diagram of the battery pack ofFigure 77A1; Figure 77B1 is a first side view of the battery pack ofFigure 77A1 in a second operational (coupled) configuration;Figure 77B2 is a second side view of the battery pack ofFigure 77A2; Figure 77B3 is a simplified circuit diagram of the battery pack ofFigure 77B1 . -
Figure 1 illustrates three views of an exemplary embodiment of abattery pack 10, this exemplary battery pack is a convertible battery pack, for example one of the convertible battery packs disclosed inU.S. Patent No. 9,406,915 battery pack 10 includes ahousing 12. Regardless of the structure, the housing12 will form an interior cavity. Thehousing 12 includes abattery interface 14 for mechanically coupling with a corresponding interface of an electrical device, for example, a power tool or a battery charger. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, thebattery interface 14 includes a rail and groove system including a pair ofrails 16 and a pair ofgrooves 18. Other types of interfaces are contemplated and encompassed by the present invention. Thebattery interface 14 may also include a latching system including alatch 20 for affixing thebattery pack 10 to the electrical device. - The
housing 12 also includes a plurality ofslots 22 in atop portion 24 of thehousing 12. Theslots 22 may be positioned in other portions of the housing. The plurality ofslots 22 forms a set of slots. The plurality ofslots 22 corresponds to a plurality ofbattery pack terminals 26. The plurality of battery pack terminals forms a set of battery pack terminals. The plurality of slots also corresponds to a plurality of terminals of the electrical device. The plurality of electrical device terminals forms a set of electrical device terminals. The electrical device terminals are received by thebattery terminal slots 22 and engage and mate with thebattery pack terminals 26, as will be discussed in more detail below. - The
battery pack housing 12 also includes a pair of conversion slots orraceways 28 extending along the top portion24 of thehousing 12 on opposing sides of thebattery terminal slots 22. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, theraceways 28 extend from a forward (in the orientation illustrated inFigure 1 ) edge or surface of thehousing 12 to a central portion of the top portion of the housing. Eachraceway 28 ends at a throughhole 30 in thetop portion 24 of thehousing 12. The through holes 30 extend from an exterior surface of the housing to the interior cavity. In the illustrated embodiment, the throughholes 30 are positioned in front of therails 16 of thebattery interface 14 and adjacent to thehousing slots 22. Theconversion slots 28 and throughholes 30 may be positioned in other portions of thehousing 12. Alternate embodiments may include more or less conversion slots. - As illustrated in
Figure 1 , the exemplary embodiment of thebattery pack 10 includes a plurality ofbattery cells 32. Thebattery pack 10 also includes a terminal block 34 and thebattery pack terminals 26. At one end, thebattery pack terminals 26 are configured to electrically couple to the electrical device terminals and at another end thebattery pack terminals 26 are electrically coupled to thebattery cells 32, as described in more detail below. - The manner in which the battery pack converts from the low rated voltage configuration to the medium rated voltage configuration will be described in more detail below. It should be understood that the terms "low" and "medium" are simply intended to be relative terms in that the low rated voltage configuration has a voltage less than the medium rated voltage configuration and the medium rated voltage configuration has a voltage greater than the low rated voltage configuration. Reference should be made to
U.S. Patent No. 9,406,915 - The
exemplary battery pack 10 includes two sets (also referred to as strings) of battery cells 32 - an A set and a B set. In this particular example, each set of cells includes fivebattery cells 32. The five battery cells are electrically connected in series. Each set of cells has a positive terminal and a negative terminal. As illustrated inFigures 2 - 7 , a converting subsystem makes and breaks connections between the terminals of the sets of cells to effectively open and close the switches SW1-SW3 illustrated inFigures 7 and15 and described above. The converting subsystem includes aconverter element 50.Figure 4 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the converter element 50 - also referred to as a coupler, a conversion card, a slider or a slider card - of the exemplary embodiment of theconvertible battery pack 10 ofFigure 1 . - The battery pack illustrated in
Figure 3 may be placed in three configurations and is capable of presenting two different rated voltages. In other words, the battery pack may be configured to present a first rated voltage wherein the two sets of battery cells are coupled in a first manner (in parallel), may be configured to present a second rated voltage wherein the two sets of battery cells are coupled in a second manner (in series), and may be configured to present a zero voltage wherein the two sets of battery cells are decoupled. - The
converter element 50 includes a support structure, board orhousing 52. Thesupport structure 52 may be of a plastic material or any other material that will serve the functions described below. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment the converterelement support structure 52 is in the shape of a U. More specifically, the converterelement support structure 52 includes twoparallel legs 54 and acrossbar 56 connecting theparallel legs 54. Theconverter element 50 may take other shapes. Theconverter element 50 includes a pair ofprojections 58. Theconverter element projections 58 extend from a top surface of the converter element support structure. One of theprojections 58 may extend from a surface of each of theparallel legs 54. Theconverter element 50 may include more orless projections 58. Eachprojection 58 extends through one of the throughholes 30 and into theraceway 28. When theconverter element 50 is in a first position, as illustrated inFigure 5 and described below, theprojections 58 are positioned at a first end of the corresponding throughhole 30. When theconverter element 50 is in a second position, as illustrated inFigure 16 and described below, theprojections 58 are positioned at a second end of the corresponding throughhole 30. - The
converter element 50 also includes a plurality ofcontacts 60. The plurality ofcontacts 60 forms a set of contacts. Thesupport structure 52 also includes a bottom surface. Thecontacts 60 extend from the bottom surface of thecross bar 56. - The
battery pack 10 also includes a pair of compression springs 62. Alternate exemplary embodiments may include more or less springs, other types of springs and/or springs positioned in different locations. These embodiments are contemplated and encompassed by the present disclosure. Eachparallel leg 54 includes aspring 62 thereabout. A first end of eachcompression spring 62 engages a wall of theprojection 58. A second end of eachcompression spring 62 engages a wall of thesupport board 52. The compression springs 62 are configured to force theconverter element 50 into the first position, as illustrated inFigure 5 . As illustrated inFigure 5 , the battery pack is configured to present a first (low) rated voltage. The sets of battery cells are coupled in parallel. In such a configuration, electrically speaking, the twoswitch contacts 60a (S1), 60B (S2) make mechanical and electrical contact with thecontact pads 66 to couple the sets ofbattery cells Figure 6 illustrates an alternate presentation ofFigure 5 in which theswitch contacts contact pads 66 to couple the sets ofbattery cells Figure 7 illustrates an electrical circuit diagram which illustrates electrical switches (SW1, SW2) representative of the physical switches created by theswitch contacts 60 and thecontact pads 66. As illustrated, when theswitch contact 60a couples the A-contact pad 66 and the B-contact pad 66 the power switch SW1 is closed (in a closed state) and when theswitch contact 60b couples theA+ contact pad 66 and theB+ contact pad 66 the power switch SW2 is closed (in a closed state) and as no switch contact couples the A-contact pad 66 to theB+ contact pad 66 the power switch SW3 is open (in an opened state). As such, in this low rated configuration, the A string (set) ofbattery cells 34a and the B string (set) ofbattery cells 34b are electrically connected in parallel by the switch network made up of power switches SW1, SW2 and SW3. - As described in detail in
U.S. Patent No. 9,406,915 battery pack 10 in the mating direction and the electrical device conversion elements engage theconverter element projections 58, theconverter element 50 is moved from its first position (illustrated inFigure 5 ) and forced to act against thespring 62 thereby compressing thespring 62. When the electrical device is fully mated with thebattery pack 10, theconverter element 50 will have moved from the first position to the second position and thespring 62 will be at its full compression (illustrated inFigure 16 ). When the electrical device is detached from thebattery pack 10, thespring 62 forces theconverter element 50 to move from the second position (illustrated inFigure 16 ) to the first position (illustrated inFigure 5 ). Thebattery pack 10 may also include, for example, the PCB and/or some other type of insulatingsupport board 64 between theconverter element 50 and thecells 32, as described in more detail below. -
Figure 6 illustrates a simplified circuit diagram of an exemplary battery of the exemplary embodiment of theconvertible battery pack 10. - In the exemplary embodiment, the
battery pack 10 is convertible between the low rated voltage configuration and the medium rated voltage configuration. Solely for purposes of example, the low rated voltage may be 20 Volts and the medium rated voltage may be 40 Volts. Other voltages are contemplated and encompassed by the scope of this disclosure. As illustrated inFigure 6 , the exemplary battery includes two strings (also referred to as sets) 34 of cells - an "A"string 34a and a "B"string 34b - each string including 5battery cells 32. Other exemplary, alternate embodiments may include fewer or more strings and/or fewer or more cells per string. Each string ofcells 32 includes a positive terminal, e.g., A+, B+ and a negative terminal, e.g., A-, B-. Eachcell 32 is denoted by the string and its position in the string, e.g., CA1 is the first cell in the A string when moving from negative terminal to the positive terminal in the string and CB5 is the fifth cell in the B string when moving from the negative terminal to the positive terminal. This denotation is merely exemplary and other denotations may be used to the same effect. A node between adjacent cells is denoted by the string and its position in the string, e.g., A2 is a node in the A string between cell CA2 and cell CA3. And B3 is a node in the B string between cell CB3 and cell CB4. - Referring to
Figures 6 and7 , the battery also includes a plurality of switches - also referred to as a switching network. The plurality of switches may be mechanical switches, electronic switches or electromechanical switches or any combination thereof. - When the
battery pack 10 is in the low rated voltage state or configuration - not connected to any electrical device or connected to a low rated voltage electrical device, the switches SW1, SW2 are in a closed state and the switch SW3 is in an opened state. When thebattery pack 10 is in the medium rated voltage state - connected to a medium rated voltage electrical device, the switches SW1 and SW2 are in an opened state and switch SW3 is in a closed state. The conventional power terminals are typically referred to a DEVICE+ (or TOOL+) and DEVICE- (TOOL-) terminals and couple to the BATT+ and BATT- terminals, respectively. -
Figures 5 and6 also clearly illustrate the exemplary contact pad layout. Each of the contact pads 66 (A+, B+, A-, B-) is electrically coupled to a denoted cell string terminal, specifically theA+ contact pad 66 is electrically coupled to the A+ terminal of the A string of cells (positive terminal of the "A" set of cells), theB+ contact pad 66 is electrically coupled to the B+ terminal of the B string of cells (positive terminal of the "B" set of cells), the A-contact pad 66 is electrically coupled to the A- terminal of the A string of cells (negative terminal of the "A" set of cells), and the B-contact pad 66 is electrically coupled to the B- terminal of the B string of cells (negative terminal of the "B" set of cells). - Furthermore, the
A+ contact pad 66 is electrically coupled to the BATT+battery pack terminal 26a. And, the B- contact pad is electrically coupled to the BATT-battery pack terminal 26b. - In the exemplary embodiment, the plurality of
contact pads 66 allow for theconverter element contacts 60 to slide along thesupport board 64 and thecontact 60 to break and make connections between the discrete contact pads 66 - effectively opening and closing the power switches SW1 - SW3, as described above. This process is described in more detail below. -
Figures 2 and3 illustrate, in more detail, theexemplary battery pack 10. Thebattery pack 10 includes the converting subsystem. The converting subsystem includes the support board and theconverter element 50.Figure 6 illustrates the plurality of contact pads and the converter element contacts in the first operational position but without the converter element housing. The contact pad configuration illustrated inFigure 6 is an exemplary configuration. Alternate exemplary embodiments may include other contact pad configurations and are contemplated and encompassed by the present disclosure. -
Figures 6 and14 illustrate the low rated voltage configuration and the medium rated voltage configuration, respectively. - Referring to
Figures 6 and14 , the low rated voltage configuration will be described. When the exemplary battery pack ofFigure 1 is not coupled to an electrical device or when it is coupled to a low rated voltage tool, it is in the low rated voltage configuration. When in this low rated voltage configuration, a first converter element contact electrically couples the A+ contact pad and the B+ contact and a second converter element contact electrically couples the A- contact pad and the B- contact pad. This effectively places switches SW1 and SW2, in the closed state and as there is no connection between the A- contact pad and the B+ contact pad this effectively places switch SW3 in the opened state. As such, the positive terminals of the A string of cells and the B string of cells are all electrically connected and coupled to the BATT+ battery terminal and the negative terminals of the A string of cells and the B string of cells are electrically connected and coupled to the BATT- battery terminal. Therefore the strings of cells are all in parallel. - When the battery pack mates with a medium rated voltage tool, the tool projections will engage the converter element projections and force the converter element to move to its second position.
- When the converter element moves to its medium rated voltage position, the first converter element contact will decouple from the A+ and B+ contact pads and couple the B+ and A- contact pads and the second converter element contact will decouple from the A- and B- contact pads. This effectively places switches SW1 and SW2 in the opened state and effectively places switch SW3 in the closed state. As such, BATT- battery terminal is coupled to the B- terminal of the B string of cells, the B+ terminal of the B string of cells is coupled to the A-terminal of the A string of cells and the A+ terminal of the A string of cells is coupled to the BATT+ terminal. Therefore the strings of cells are all in series.
- Of course, as the electrical device disconnects from the convertible battery pack in a direction opposite the mating direction - also referred to as the unmating direction - the converter element will move from the second position to the first position and the converter element contacts will connect and disconnect to the contact pads in a reverse order described above. In addition, it is contemplated that the convertible battery pack could be configured such that when the battery pack is not mated with the electrical device and the converter element is in the first position the battery pack is in the medium rated voltage configuration and when the battery pack is mated with the electrical device the battery pack is in the low rated voltage configuration. Of course, the various connections and switches would be adjusted accordingly.
-
Figure 8 illustrates several views of an exemplary transport coupler (also referred to as a transport lock or transport cap) 100 of the present disclosure, that mates with the convertible battery pack to place the battery pack in a transport configuration.Figure 9 illustrates thetransport lock 100 about to mate with thebattery pack 10. Thetransport lock 100 includes an interface for coupling with the battery pack. Thelock 100 includes acover plate 102 for covering the batteryterminal housing slots 22 and a pair ofparallel legs 104 that extend from opposing sides of thecover plate 102. Thelegs 104 are configured to slide into thegrooves 18 of thebattery pack 10 similar to rails of an electrical device that is configured to mate with thebattery pack 10. - The
lock 100 also includes a pair of conversion elements oractuators 106 positioned parallel with theparallel legs 104. Theseactuators 106 are configured to be received in the battery pack raceways 28 similar to the conversion elements of the electrical device. In the exemplary embodiment, theactuators 106 may be simple projections or protrusions that may extend down from thelock 100. Theactuators 106 are sized and positioned to be received in corresponding batterypack conversion slots 28. Thelock 100 also includes a lockingprojection 108 spaced forward from theactuator 106 and separated by anotch 110. As thelock 100 slides into mating engagement with thebattery pack 10 in a mating direction - as indicated by arrow A - ahandle 112 is raised and aliving hinge 114 allows theactuator 106 and lockingprojection 108 to rise, relative to thebattery pack 10, while theparallel legs 104 are received in thebattery pack grooves 18. As thehandle 112 rises and thelock 100 moves into engagement with thebattery pack 10 the lockingprojection 108 moves up, over and past a leading, engaging surface 72 of the convertingelement 50 of the battery pack converting subsystem. As thelock 100 moves into further engagement with thebattery pack 10 anengaging surface 116 of theactuator 106 engages the engaging surface 72 of the convertingelement 50. As thelock 100 further engages theconverter element 50 theconverter element 50 is forced further into thebattery pack housing 12. When theconverter element 50 reaches a certain point in the mating direction, thehandle 112 of thelock 100 moves downward as theactuator 106 moves into a space of the throughhole 30 vacated by the movement of theconverter element 50. As thehandle 112 moves downward and theactuator 106 moves into the throughhole 30 the lockingprojection 108 of thelock 100 moves into a notch or catch 70 of theconverter element projection 58. By theactuator 106 being in the throughhole 30 theconverter element 50 is prevented from moving in a direction opposite to the mating direction A and by the lockingprojection 108 being in thecatch 70 theconverter element 50 is prevented from moving further in the mating direction A. - As described above, when the
lock 100 fully engages thebattery pack 10, as illustrated inFigures 11 and12 , theconverter element 50 is placed in an intermediate position between the first operational (low rated voltage) position/configuration and the second operational (medium rated voltage) position/configuration. As illustrated inFigure 13 , when thetransport lock 100 is mated with thebattery pack 10 thebattery pack 10 is configured to present a zero voltage. The sets ofbattery cells switch contacts 60a (S1), 60B (S2) do not make mechanical and electrical contact with any of thecontact pads 66.Figure 14 illustrates an alternate presentation ofFigure 13 in which theswitch contacts contact pads 66 and decouple the sets ofbattery cells Figure 15 illustrates an electrical circuit diagram which illustrates electrical switches (SW1, SW2) representative of the physical switches created by theswitch contacts 60 and thecontact pads 66. As illustrated, when theswitch contact 60a decouples the A-contact pad 66 and the B-contact pad 66 the power switch SW1 is opened (in an opened state) and when theswitch contact 60b decouples theA+ contact pad 66 and theB+ contact pad 66 the power switch SW2 is opened (in an opened state) and as no switch contact couples theA-contact pad 66 to theB+ contact pad 66 the power switch SW3 is open (in an opened state). As such, in this opened/transport configuration, the A string (set) ofbattery cells 34a and the B string (set) ofbattery cells 34b are electrically disconnected by the switch network made up of power switches SW1, SW2 and SW3. - As the underlying support board holding the contact pads is of a nonconductive material, when the converter element is in the intermediate position the converter element contacts do not couple a pair of contact pads. As such, switches SW1, SW2 and SW3 are all in an opened state. As illustrated in
Figure 15 , this effectively electrically separates and isolates the A string of battery cells from the B string of battery cells. In addition, a zero voltage potential will exist between the BATT+ and BATT- battery terminals. - As illustrated in
Figure 16 , the battery pack is configured to present a second (medium) rated voltage. The sets ofbattery cells switch contacts 60a (S1), 60B (S2) make mechanical and electrical contact with thecontact pads 66 to couple the sets ofbattery cells Figure 17 illustrates an alternate presentation ofFigure 16 in which theswitch contacts contact pads 66 to couple the sets ofbattery cells Figure 18 illustrates an electrical circuit diagram which illustrates electrical switches (SW1, SW2) representative of the physical switches created by theswitch contacts 60 and thecontact pads 66. As illustrated, as theswitch contact 60a does not couple the A-contact pad 66 and the B-contact pad 66 the power switch SW1 is open (in an opened state) and theswitch contact 60b does not couple theA+ contact pad 66 and theB+ contact pad 66 the power switch SW2 is opend (in an opened state) and as theswitch contact 60B couples the A-contact pad 66 to theB+ contact pad 66 the power switch SW3 is closed (in a closed state). As such, in this medium rated configuration, the A string (set) ofbattery cells 34a and the B string (set) ofbattery cells 34b are electrically connected in series by the switch network made up of power switches SW1, SW2 and SW3. -
Figures 19 - 28 illustrate operation of an alternate exemplary converting subsystem of an alternateexemplary battery pack 10 when engaged by atransport lock 10 similar to the transport lock ofFigure 8 . This battery pack illustrated inFigures 19 - 28 may be placed in three configurations but is only capable of presenting a single rated voltages. In other words, the battery pack may be configured to present a first rated voltage wherein the two sets of battery cells are coupled in a first manner (in parallel), may be configured to present the same first rated voltage wherein the two sets of battery cells are coupled in the same manner (in parallel) but theconverter element 50 is in a different location than in the first configuration, and may be configured to present a zero voltage wherein the two sets of battery cells are decoupled. As such, thebatteyr pack 10 includes a converting subsystem that converts from a first operational configuration (a first rated voltage) to an open state configuration (for transport) to a second operational configuration (also the first rated voltage). Thetransport lock 10 operates in the same manner as described above. - As illustrated in
Figure 20 , the battery pack is in a first operational configuration and as such is configured to present a rated voltage. The sets of battery cells are coupled in parallel. In such a configuration, electrically speaking, the twoswitch contacts 60a (S1), 60B (S2) make mechanical and electrical contact with thecontact pads 66 to couple the sets ofbattery cells Figure 21 illustrates an alternate presentation ofFigure 20 in which theswitch contacts contact pads 66 to couple the sets ofbattery cells Figure 22 illustrates an electrical circuit diagram which illustrates electrical switches (SW1, SW2) representative of the physical switches created by theswitch contacts 60 and thecontact pads 66. As illustrated, when theswitch contact 60a couples the first A-contact pad 66 and the B-contact pad 66 the power switch SW1 is closed (in a closed state) and when theswith contact 60b couples the firstA+ contact pad 66 and theB+ contact pad 66 the power switch SW2 is closed (in a closed state). As such, in this rated configuration, the A string (set) ofbattery cells 34a and the B string (set) ofbattery cells 34b are electrically connected in parallel by the switch network made up of power switches SW1 and SW2. In this configuration (sometimes referred to as a working state or configuration), the strings ofcells converter element 50 into this operational configuration. - As illustrated in
Figure 23 , the battery pack is configured to present a zero voltage. The sets ofbattery cells switch contacts 60a (S1), 60B (S2) do not make mechanical and electrical contact with any of thecontact pads 66.Figure 24 illustrates an alternate presentation ofFigure 23 in which theswitch contacts contact pads 66 and decouple the sets ofbattery cells Figure 25 illustrates an electrical circuit diagram which illustrates electrical switches (SW1, SW2) representative of the physical switches created by theswitch contacts 60 and thecontact pads 66. As illustrated, when theswitch contact 60a decouples the first A-contact pad 66 and the B-contact pad 66 the power switch SW1 is opened (in an opened state) and when theswitch contact 60b decouples theA+ contact pad 66 and the firstB+ contact pad 66 the power switch SW2 is opened (in an opened state). As such, in this opened/transport configuration, the A string (set) ofbattery cells 34a and the B string (set) ofbattery cells 34b are electrically disconnected by the switch network made up of power switches SW1, SW2 and SW3. - As illustrated in
Figure 26 , the battery pack is configured to present the first rated voltage. The sets ofbattery cells switch contacts 60a (S1), 60B (S2) make mechanical and electrical contact with thecontact pads 66 to couple the sets ofbattery cells Figure 27 illustrates an alternate presentation ofFigure 26 in which theswitch contacts contact pads 66 to couple the sets ofbattery cells Figure 28 illustrates an electrical circuit diagram which illustrates electrical switches (SW1, SW2) representative of the physical switches created by theswitch contacts 60 and thecontact pads 66. As illustrated, as theswitch contact 60a couples the A-contact pad 66 and the B-contact pad 66 the power switch SW1 is closed (in a closed state) and theswitch contact 60b couples theA+ contact pad 66 and theB+ contact pad 66 the power switch SW2 is closed (in a closed state). As such, in this rated configuration, the A string (set) ofbattery cells 34a and the B string (set) ofbattery cells 34b are electrically connected in parallel by the switch network made up of power switches SW1 and SW2. - Alternate exemplary embodiments may include other contact pad layouts and are contemplated and encompassed by the present disclosure. As noted above, these exemplary pad layouts may be supported on a PCB, a support board or some other support structure.
- Another alternate exemplary embodiment of a coupler/transport lock (also referred to as a separator) is shown in
Figure 29 . In this embodiment, the separator is shown as a slidingmember 54S, which preferably has at least one contact surface 54SS for contacting the projection(s) 54. The contact surface 54SS may move the projection(s) 54 from the first end of the through hole 42 to an intermediate position between the first and second ends of through hole 42. In such a position, the switches SW1, SW2 are in an open state so that each string of battery cells has an energy equal to or less than 100 Watt-hours, as the different subsets A, B, C of cells 48 (CA1-CA5, CB1-CB5 and CC1-CC5) are electrically disconnected, thus complying with shipping regulations. - In order to maintain the projection(s) 54 in the intermediate position, it is preferable to provide a locking mechanism on sliding
member 54S. In particular, slidingmember 54S may have projections 54HL which engageholes 54H onbattery pack 10. Persons skilled in the art shall recognize that the projections 54HL and holes 54H may be provided instead onbattery pack 16 and slidingmember 54S, respectively. - In order to maintain the projection(s) 54 in the intermediate position, it is preferable to provide a locking mechanism on sliding
member 54S. In particular, slidingmember 54S may have projections 54HL which engageholes 54H onbattery pack 16. Persons skilled in the art shall recognize that the projections 54HL and holes 54H may be provided instead onbattery pack 16 and slidingmember 54S, respectively. -
Figures 30-35 illustrate an alternate exemplary embodiment of aconvertible battery pack 10" and alock 100" that may be used in conjunction with thebattery pack 10"for transport purposes. As illustrated inFigure 30 , thebattery pack 10" includes a first set of battery pack terminals - It may be desirable to allow the end user to set
battery pack 10" to shipping mode for transportation thereof, even after the end user has usedbattery pack 10".Figure 36 provides a possible solution for the battery terminal block 172 illustrated inFigure 30 . A terminal coupler/decoupler 132S preferably has blades 132SB made of an electrically non-conductive or insulating material, such as a non-conductive plastic. Blades 132B can be inserted between (and thus separating) thetulip sections 192 of the conversion terminals 132b2, 132b3, 132b4, 132b5. In addition, blades 132SB are long enough that they extend beyond thetulip sections 192 and push against the contact section 194 of the associated conversion terminal 132b1, 132b6, so that the contact section 194 of the conversion terminals 132b1, 132b6 move toward the position shown in broken lines inFigure 36 . In such position, the contact section 194 of the conversion converting terminals 132b1, 132b6 do not contact thetulip sections 192 of each conversion terminal 132b2, 132b3, 132b4, 132b5. For example, blade 132SB would push the contact section 194 of the conversion terminal 132b6 away fromtulip section 192 of the conversion terminal 132b5. - Persons skilled in the art will recognize that
battery pack 10" can be transported withterminal separator 132S in place. With such arrangement,battery pack 10" would comply with the shipping regulations as each battery cell has a power output equal to or less than 20 Watt-hours and the total power output of the battery pack to equal to or less than 100 Watt-hours per battery pack, as the different subsets of cells 32 (A1-A5, B1-B5 and C1-C5) are electrically disconnected. In order for the end user to usebattery pack 10", the end user needs only to removeterminal separator 132S from the housing ofbattery pack 10". This will allow the conversion terminals to contact and connect, allowingbattery pack 10" to operate as discussed above. In addition, end user could re-installterminal separator 132S to separate the converting terminals as disclosed above, readyingbattery pack 10" for transportation. - As shown in
Figure 36 ,terminal separator 132S can be inserted by moving downwardly, i.e., in a direction of arrow C substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axes ofrails 16 andgrooves 18. Persons skilled in the art will also recognize that analternative terminal separator 132S may have extensions 132SR that can engagerails 16 and/orgrooves 18. Such alternativeterminal separator 132S may be inserted into the terminals by moving it along a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axes ofrails 16 andgrooves 18, so that the extensions 132SR can engagerails 16 and/orgrooves 18. As before, blades 132SB would contact and push downward the contact section 194 of the associated conversion terminal 132b1, 132b6, so that the contact section 194 of the conversion terminals 132b1, 132b6 move toward the position shown in broken lines inFigure 36 . In such position, the contact section 194 of the conversion converting terminals 132b1, 132b6 do not contact thetulip sections 192 of each conversion terminal 132b2, 132b3, 132b4, 132b5. Blades 132SB would also preferably separate) thetulip sections 192 of the conversion terminals 132b2, 132b3, 132b4, 132b5. -
Figures 37 - 52 illustrate an alternate exemplary embodiment of a convertible battery pack 10' and a transport lock 100' that may be used in conjunction with thebattery pack 10"for transport purposes. The battery pack 10' is very similar to thebattery pack 10 illustrated inFigures 1-18 and described above, except that the battery pack 10' includes three strings (sets) of battery cells 34 and includes additional switches SW4, SW5, SW6. The converter element 50' operates very similarly to theconverter element 50 ofbattery pack 10. As illustrated inFigures 44 - 50 and described herein, the transport lock or cap 100' places the battery pack 10' in an open state such that it is in neither a low rated voltage configuration or state (20V mode) nor a medium rated voltage configuration or state (60V mode) very similarly to thetransport lock 100 described above. From an electrical connections perspective, the conversion from the low rated voltage state (20V mode) to the medium rated voltage state (60V mode) is the same as described above and is implemented by movement of the converter element 50'. In other words, operation of the battery pack 10' described in this embodiment is very similar to thebattery pack 10 described above with reference toFigures 1 -18 . - The transport lock 100', illustrated in
Figures 44 - 48 slides onto the battery pack 10' in a manner similar to thetransport lock 100 described above. The transport lock 100' indues a pair of lockingarms 122 that are connected to an underside of the cover plate 102' by a living hinge 114'. The lockingarms 122 include a rail that is received in thebattery groove 18. The lockingarm 122 includes a lockingprojection 126 that extends from the lockingarm 122 towards the battery pack 10'. The transport lock 100' also includes a conversion projection 106' that engages and pushes theconverter element projection 58. The transport lock 100' also includes acatch 120 for receiving thebattery pack latch 20 for locking the transport lock 100' to the battery pack 10'. -
Figures 46A, 46B, 46C ,47A, 47B and48 illustrate the transport lock 100' mated to the battery pack 10' thereby placing the battery pack 10' into the transportation configuration. As the transport lock 100' moves the direction A and mates with the battery pack 10', the rails of the lockingarms 122 move into thegrooves 18 of the battery pack 10' and the conversion projections 106' move into theraceways 28 of the battery pack 10' and engage thepush arms 74 of theconverter element projections 58. As the transport lock 100' continues to move in the A direction and moves theconverter element 50, theconverter element 50 moves theswitch contacts 60 out of engagement with thecontact pads 66, as described above, decoupling the strings of battery cells 34 thereby placing the battery pack 10' into the transport configuration. Simultaneously, as the transport lock 100' moves in the A direction, thebattery rail shoulder 36 engages thelocking arm 122 forcing thelocking arm 122 to rotate about the connection point of the living hinge 114' and forces the lockingprojection 126 to press on theconverter element projection 58 which in turn forces theconverter element projection 58 to press on theconverter element PCB 64 creating a frictional force between theconverter element 50 and thePCB 64 to assist keeping theconverter element 50 in the transport configuration. - As the transport lock 100' reaches the end of its travel, a forward portion of the cover plate 102' will begin to engage the
battery pack latch 20 forcing the latch into thebattery pack housing 12. When the transport lock 100' reaches its final position thebattery pack latch 20 will be received in thetransport lock catch 70. This will keep the transport lock 100' attached to the battery pack 10'. - As illustrated in
Figure 49 , when the transport lock 100' is mated with the battery pack 10' the battery pack 10' is configured to present a zero voltage. The sets ofbattery cells switch contacts 60a (S1), 60b (S2), 60c (S3), 60d (S4) do not make mechanical and electrical contact with any of thecontact pads 66. -
Figure 50 illustrates an electrical circuit diagram which illustrates electrical switches (SW1, SW2, SW3, SW4) representative of the physical switches created by theswitch contacts 60 and thecontact pads 66. As illustrated, when theswitch contact converter element 50 the A-contact pad 66 is decoupled from the B-contact pad 66, the A-contact pad 66 is decoupled from the C-contact 66, theC+ contact pad 66 is decoupled from theB+ contact pad 66 and theC+ contact pad 66 is decoupled from theA+ contact pad 66 effectively causing the power switch SW1 to open (in an opened state), the power switch SW2 to open (in an opened state), the power switch SW3 to open (in an opened state) and the power switch SW4 to open (in an opened state) and as no switch contact couples theA+ contact pad 66 to the B-contact pad 66 and no switch contact couplesB+ contact pad 66 to the C-contact pad 66, the power switches SW5 and SW6 are open (in an opened state). As such, in this opened/transport configuration, the A string (set) ofbattery cells 34a, the B string (set) ofbattery cells 34b, and the C string (set) of battery cells 34c are electrically disconnected by the switch network made up of power switches SW1, SW2, SW3, SW4, SW5, and SW6. - As illustrated in
Figure 51 , the battery pack is configured to present a second (medium) rated voltage. The sets ofbattery cells switch contacts 60a (S1), 60b (S2), 60c (S3), 60d (S4) make mechanical and electrical contact with thecontact pads 66 to couple the sets ofbattery cells Figure 52 illustrates an electrical circuit diagram which illustrates electrical switches (SW1, SW2, SW3, SW4) are representative of the physical switches created by theswitch contacts 60 and thecontact pads 66. As illustrated, as theswitch contact 60a does not couple theA+ contact pad 66 and theC+ contact pad 66, theswitch contact 60b does not couopled the C+ contact pad and the B+ contact pad, the switch contact 60c does not couple the A-contact pad 66 and the C-contact pad 66 and the switch contact 60d does not couple the A-contact pad 66 and the B-contact pad 66, the power switch SW1 is open (in an opened state), the power switch SW2 is open (in an opened state), the power switch SW3 is open (in an opened state), and the power switch SW4 is open (in an opened state). - As the
switch contact 60b couples the C-contact pad 66 to theB+ contact pad 66 the power switch SW6 is closed (in a closed state) and as the switch contact 60d couples theA+ contact pad 66 to theB+ contact pad 66 the power switch SW5 is closed (in a closed state). As such, in this medium rated configuration, the A string (set) ofbattery cells 34a, the B string (set) ofbattery cells 34b, and the C string (set) of battery cells 34c are electrically connected in series by the switch network made up of power switches SW1, SW2, SW3, SW4, SW5, and SW6. -
Figure 53A1 illustrates an alternate exemplary embodiment of a battery pack 500. The battery pack 500 includes two strings (sets) of battery cells 534a, 534b. Each string - the A string and the B string - includes five battery cells 532 connected in series. Each string of battery cells 534 has a positive terminal 536 and a negative terminal 538. In alternate embodiments, the battery pack 500 may include more strings of battery cells and each string may include fewer or more battery cells. The battery pack 500 includes ahousing 512 that holds the battery cells 532. The battery pack 500 also includes a cell holder that maintains the position of each battery cell 532 relative to the other battery cells. The battery pack 500 also includes a batterypack terminal block 540. The battery pack terminal block 540 houses a plurality (set) of battery pack terminals 550. In this embodiment, the plurality of battery pack terminals 550 includes a positive battery pack terminal corresponding to each string of battery cells and a negative terminal corresponding to each string of battery cells. In this embodiment, there is a positive battery pack terminal for the A string ofbattery cells 550a, a positive battery pack terminal for the B string ofbattery cells 550b, a negative battery pack terminal for the A string ofbattery cells 550c, and a negative battery pack terminal for the B string ofbattery cells 550d. - The battery pack terminals 550 are electrically coupled to a corresponding terminal of the string of battery cells. More specifically, the positive A string
battery pack terminal 550a is electrically connected to the positive terminal of the A string of battery cells 536a, the positive B stringbattery pack terminal 550b is electrically connected to the positive terminal of the B string of battery cells 536b, the negative A stringbattery pack terminal 550c is electrically connected to the negative terminal of the A string of cells 538a and the negative B stringbattery pack terminal 550d is electrically connected to the negative terminal of the B string of battery cells 538b. Furthermore, in a default state the positivebattery pack terminals battery pack terminals - As illustrated in
Figure 53A1 , when the battery pack 500 is not connected to an electrical device, the positive A stringbattery pack terminal 550a is electrically connected to the positive B stringbattery pack terminals 550b and the negative A stringbattery pack terminal 550c is electrically connected to the negative B stringbattery pack terminal 550d. As such, as illustrated inFigure 53A2 , the two strings of battery cells 534 are connected to each other in parallel. This configuration is referred to as a coupled configuration or a working configuration. - As illustrated in
Figure 53B1 , in order to separate the strings of battery cells 534 and thereby reduce the power level of the battery pack 500 for transport, a transport coupler/lock such as aninsulator 560 is mated to the batterypack terminal block 540. Theinsulator 560 may be housed in a housing 562. Theinsulator 560 is made of any insulating material and shaped to extend from the coupler housing 562 and be inserted between the positivebattery pack terminals battery pack terminals - As illustrated in
Figure 53B2 , when theinsulator 560 is mated to the battery pack 500 and inserted between thebattery pack terminals insulator 560 is removed from the battery pack 500, the battery pack terminals once again mate thereby coupling the strings of battery cells 534. - When the battery pack 500 mates with a corresponding mating interface of an electrical device (power tool) 566, a power
tool terminal block 568 housing the power terminals 570 of the power tool 566 mate with the corresponding battey pack terminals 550 to provide power from the battery pack 500 to the tool 566. As illustrated inFigure 53B2 , once again, the strings of battery cells are electrically connected to each of in parallel. -
Figure 54 illustrates an alternate exemplary embodiment of abattery pack 600 and an alternate exemplary transport coupler/cap for use in conjunction with thebattery pack 600.Figure 54A1 illustrates thebattery pack 600 mated to an electrical device (power tool) 610. Thebattery pack 600 includes abattery pack interface 602 that is configured to mate with a correspondingpower tool interface 604. Theinterfaces terminal block 606 for housing a set of battery pack terminals 607. The power tool also includes a terminal block 608 for housing a set oftool terminals 609. The batterypack terminal block 606 and battery pack terminals 607 are configured to mate with the tool terminal block 608 andtool terminals 609, as is well known in the art. Thebattery pack 600 includes battery cells and strings of battery cells similar to the battery cells and strings of battery cells described with regard toFigure 53 . The battery pack also includes abattery pack latch 620 for latching to theelectrical device 610 and acompression spring 618 that forces thelatch 620 to extend at least partially out of thebattery pack housing 612 to be received by acorresponding catch 626 of apower tool 610. This is referred to as the up position. - The
battery pack 600 also includes afirst switch contact 622a attached to a first side of thebattery pack latch 620 and asecond switch contact 622b attached to a second side of thebattery pack latch 620, the second side being opposed to the first side. Both sides of thelatch 620 are located within the battery pack housing. Thebattery pack 600 also includes a positive Astring contact pad 616a, a positive B string contact pad 616b, a negative Astring contact pad 616c, and a negative Bstring contact pad 616d. Thepositive contact pads 616a, 616b are fixed to a first interior surface of thebattery pack housing 612 adjacent to the first side of thebattery pack latch 620 and thenegative contact pads batteyr pack housing 612 adjacent to the second side of thebattery pack latch 620. Thepositive contact pads 616a, 616b are positioned relative to each other such that they do not touch each other but so that they mate with thefirst switch contact 622a when the latch is in the up position and thenegative contact pads second switch contact 622b when the latch is in the up position. - As illustrated in
Figures 54A1 and 54A2 , thebattery pack 600 is mated to thepower tool 610 and thelatch 620 is in the up position received in the power tool catch. As such, thepositive switch contact 622a couples thepositive contact pads 616a, 616b effectively closing a switch SW2 between a positiveA string terminal 550a and a positiveB string terminal 550b and thenegative switch contact 622b couples thenegative contact pads A string terminal 550c and a negativeB string terminal 550d thecorresponding contact pads - As illustrated in
Figures 54B1, 54B2, 54B3, in order to place thebattery pack 600 in a reduced power capacity state, a transport lock orcap 630 is attached to thebattery pack 600. Thecap 630 includes a connector 632 for connecting the cap to thebattery pack housing 612. In this exemplary embodiment, the connector 632 comprises a set of legs and receiving catches to allow thecap 630 to be snapped onto thebattery pack 600. Thecap 630 has an interior cavity that receives the battery pack terminal block andlatch 620. The interior height of the interior cavity is such that when thecap 630 is attached to thebattery pack 600 an interior surface of the interior cavity forces thelatch 618 into thebattery pack housing 612 against the force of thespring 618. When thecap 630 is attached to thebattery pack 600 and thelatch 630 is forced into thebattery pack housing 612, theswitch contacts corresponding contact pads Figure 54B3 illustrates the open switches SW1, SW2 between the string terminals. -
Figures 55 - 60 illustrate an alternate example of a shipping system for a battery pack. In this shipping system the battery pack includes a screw (or an equivalent component) that is received by the battery housing. The screw may be placed in two positions. A first, up or extended position in which the screw extends from the housing but is still held by the housing and a second down or inserted position in which the screw is screwed into the housing and lies generally flush with an outer surface of the housing. - As illustrated in
Figure 56 , the battery includes a lead coupled to a positive terminal of each of three strings of battery cells (an A string, a B string and a C string of battery cells). Each of the leads is also connected to discrete contact. The screw is also coupled to a discrete contact. This screw contact is coupled to the BATT+ battery terminal. Referring toFigures 57 and58 , when the screw is in the up position the connection between the BATT+ battery terminal and the A+ contact/lead (SW3) is open, the connection between the A+ contact/lead and the B+ contact/lead (SW2) is open and the connection between the B+ contact/lead (SW1) is open. As such, the strings of battery cells are electrically disconnected and isolated from each other. As such, there is zero voltage potential between the BATT+ and BATT- battery terminals. Referring toFigures 59 and60 , when the screw is in the down position the connection between the BATT+ battery terminal and the A+ contact/lead (SW3) is closed, the connection between the A+ contact/lead and the B+ contact/lead (SW2) is closed and the connection between the B+ contact/lead (SW1) is closed. As such, the strings of battery cells are electrically connected to each other in parallel. As such, there is a voltage potential between the BATT+ and BATT- battery terminals, dependent upon the battery cells. -
Figures 61 - 63 illustrate an alternate example of abattery pack 800 and a transport coupler for use in conjunction with thebattery pack 800. Thebattery pack 800 includes ahousing 812. Thehousing 812 houses a plurality of battery cells, as described above. The battery cells are connected in series in a string of battery cells, as described above. Thebattery pack 800 may include two or more strings of battery cells. Each string of cells may include two or more battery cells. As described above, each string of battery cells has a positive terminal and a negative terminal. In this example, each positive string terminal is electrically connected to aterminal node 816. Thebattery pack 800 includes a cell interconnect (also referred to as a cell strap) 820 that connects theterminal nodes 816. The connection between theterminal nodes 816 and thecell interconnect 820 effectively operates as a switch (SW1, SW2). Thebattey pack 800 includes apull tab 824 positioned between thecell interconnect 820 and theterminal nodes 816. Thepull tab 824 is made of an insulating material and effectively opens the switch between theterminal nodes 816 and thecell interconnect 820. As illustrated inFigure 61A , thepull tab 824 extends from inside thebattery pack housing 812 to outside thebattery pack housing 812. A user may pull thepull tab 824 to remove it from between theterminal nodes 816 and thecell interconnect 820. Once thepull tab 824 is removed (in the direction of arrow C) by a user thecell interconnect 820 will electrically couple with theterminal nodes 816 effectively closing the switches SW1, SW2. -
Figure 62 illustrates a simplified circuit diagram of the strings of cells 834a, 834b, 834c and the switches SW1, SW2 connecting the string terminals. In the configuration illustrated inFigure 62 , thepull tab 824 is positioned between theterminal nodes 816 and thecell interconnect 820 so that the switches SW1 and SW2 are open and the strings of cells are decoupled/disconnected. -
Figure 63 illustrates the simplified circuit diagram of the strings of cells 834a, 834b, 834c and the switches SW1, SW. In the configuration illustrated inFigure 63 , thepull tab 824 has been removed (in the direction of arrow C) from between theterminal nodes 816 and thecell interconnect 820 so that the switches SW1 and SW2 are closed and the strings of cells are coupled/connected. -
Figures 64-65 illustrate an alternate example of a battery pack 800' and a transport coupler for use in conjunction with the battery pack 800'. The battery pack 800' includes a housing 812'. The housing 812' houses a plurality of battery cells, as described above. The battery cells are connected in series in a string of battery cells, as described above. The battery pack 800' may include two or more strings of battery cells. Each string of cells may include two or more battery cells. As described above, each string of battery cells has a positive terminal and a negative terminal. In this example, each positive string terminal is electrically connected to a terminal node 816'. The battery pack 800' includes a cell interconnect (also referred to as a cell strap) 820' that connects the terminal nodes 816'. The connection between the terminal nodes 816' and the cell interconnect 820' effectively operates as a switch (SW1, SW2). The battey pack 800' includes a pair of pull tab 824a', 824b' positioned between the cell interconnect 820' and the terminal nodes 816'. The pull tabs 824a', 824b' are made of an insulating material and effectively open the switch between the terminal nodes 816' and the cell interconnect 820'. As illustrated inFigure 64A , the pull tabs 824a', 824b' extend from inside the battery pack housing 812' to outside the battery pack housing 812'. A user may pull the pull tabs 824a', 824b' to remove them from between the terminal nodes 816' and the cell interconnect 820'. Once the pull tabs 824a', 824b' are removed (in the direction of arrow C) by a user the cell interconnect 820' will electrically couple with theterminal nodes 816 or an adjacent cell interconnect 820' effectively closing the switches SW1, SW2. -
Figure 64C illustrates a simplified circuit diagram of the strings of cells 834a, 834b, 834c and the switches SW1, SW2 connecting the string terminals. In the configuration illustrated inFigure 64C , the pull tabs 824a', 824b' is positioned between the terminal nodes 816' and the cell interconnect 820' so that the switches SW1 and SW2 are open and the strings of cells are decoupled/disconnected. -
Figure 65C illustrates the simplified circuit diagram of the strings of cells 834a, 834b, 834c and the switches SW1, SW. In the configuration illustrated inFigure 65C , the pull tabs 824a', 824b' have been removed (in the direction of arrow C) from between the terminal nodes 816' and the cell interconnect 820' so that the switches SW1 and SW2 are closed and the strings of cells are coupled/connected. - With such an arrangement, battery pack 810' complies with the shipping regulations as each battery cell has an energy equal to or less than 20 Watt-hours and the energy of the battery pack equal to or less than 100 Watt-hours, as the different strings A, B, C of cells 48 (CA1-CA5, CB1-CB5 and CC1-CC5) are electrically and/or mechanically disconnected. In order for the end user to use battery pack 800', the end user needs only to remove pull tabs 824a', 824b' from the housing 812' of battery pack 810'. This will allow the contacts and connecting straps 820a', 820b' to close and operate as discussed above.
-
Figures 66 and67 illustrate an alternate transport solution for the battery pack shown inFigure 61A . Similar to the example illustrated inFigures 64 and65 , this example includes pull tabs to decouple (separate) and couple (connect) cell interconnects to decouple and couple the strings of cells. In such an example, eachcell 32 has an energy equal to or less than 20 Watt-hours. When positioned in theexemplary battery pack 800" as illustrated inFigures 66a and 66b , the temporary couplerincludes four pull tabs SS1, SS2, SS3 and SS4 (instead of two pull tabs as described with respect toFigures 64 and65 ). Persons skilled in the art will recognize that pull tabs SS1, SS2, SS3 and SS4 are made of an insulating (non-conductive) material and decouple the interconnects PS so that electricity cannot flow between the strings of cells. As shown inFigures 66A-66B , the pull tabs SS1, SS2, SS3 and SS4 extend outside of the housing ofbattery pack 800". -
Figure 67A illustrates a simplified circuit diagram of the battery ofFigure 66 wherein the pull tabs are positioned between the interconnects and as such there is an open switch between the positive and negative terminals of the strings of battery cells. More specifically, positioning the pull tab SS1 between the interconnect PS1 and the interconnect PS2 disconnects the positive terminal of the C string of cells and the positive terminal of the B string of cells thereby effectively opening the switch SW2 between the positive terminal of the C string of cells and the positive terminal of the B string of cells. - Positioning the pull tab SS3 between the interconnect PS4 and the interconnect PS5 disconnects the negative terminal of the C string of cells and the negative terminal of the B string of cells thereby effectively opening the switch SW4 between the negative terminal of the C string of cells and the negative terminal of the B string of cells.
- Positioning the pull tab SS2 between the interconnect PS2 and the
interconnect 68 disconnects the positive terminal of the B string of cells and the positive terminal of the A string of cells thereby effectively opening the switch SW1 between the positive terminal of the B string of cells and the positive terminal of the A string of cells. - Positioning the pull tab SS4 between the interconnect PS5 and the interconnect 69 disconnects the negative terminal of the B string of cells and the negative terminal of the A string of cells thereby effectively opening the switch SW3 between the negative terminal of the B string of cells and the negative terminal of the A string of cells.
- With such arrangement,
battery pack 800" complies with the shipping regulations as each battery cell has an energy equal to or less than 20 Watt-hours and the total energy of the battery pack being equal to or less than 100 Watt-hours per battery pack, as the different subsets A, B, C of cells 48 (CA1-CA5, CB1-CB5 and CC1-CC5) are electrically disconnected. - In order for the end user to use
battery pack 800", the end user needs only to remove pull tabs SS1, SS2, SS3 and SS4 from the housing ofbattery pack 800".Figure 67B illustrates a simplified circuit diagram of the battery ofFigure 66 wherein the pull straps are removed from between the interconnects and as such there is a closed switch between the positive and negative terminals of the strings of battery cells. More specifically, removing the pull tab SS1 from between the interconnect PS1 and the interconnect PS2 connects the positive terminal of the C string of cells and the positive terminal of the B string of cells thereby effectively closing the switch SW2 between the positive terminal of the C string of cells and the positive terminal of the B string of cells. - Removing the pull tab SS3 from between the interconnect PS4 and the interconnect PS5 connects the negative terminal of the C string of cells and the negative terminal of the B string of cells thereby effectively closing the switch SW4 between the negative terminal of the C string of cells and the negative terminal of the B string of cells.
- Removing the pull tab SS2 from between the interconnect PS2 and the
interconnect 68 connects the positive terminal of the B string of cells and the positive terminal of the A string of cells thereby effectively closing the switch SW1 between the positive terminal of the B string of cells and the positive terminal of the A string of cells. - Removing the pull tab SS4 from between the interconnect PS5 and the interconnect 69 connects the negative terminal of the B string of cells and the negative terminal of the A string of cells thereby effectively closing the switch SW3 between the negative terminal of the B string of cells and the negative terminal of the A string of cells.
- Persons skilled in the art shall recognize that each different subset A, B, C of cells 48 (CA1-CA5, CB91-CB5 and CC1-CC5) could be a separate UN38.3 tested sub-assembly, instead of discrete cells or cell sets combined into a larger battery pack for testing.
-
Figures 72 and73 illustrate an alternate example of a battery pack 900 and a transport coupler for use in conjunction with the battery pack 900. The battery pack 900 includes two strings (sets) of battery cells 934a, 934b. Each string - the A string and the B string - includes five battery cells 932 connected in series. Each string of battery cells 934 has a positive terminal 936 and a negative terminal 938. In alternate examples, the battery pack 900 may include more strings of battery cells and each string may include fewer or more battery cells. The battery pack 900 includes ahousing 912 that holds the battey cells 932. The battery pack 900 also includes a cell holder that maintains the position of each battery cell 932 relative to the other battery cells. The battery pack 900 also includes a batterypack terminal block 940. The battery pack terminal block 940 houses a plurality (set) of battery pack terminals 950. In this example, the plurality of battery pack terminals 950 includes a pair of positive battery pack terminal corresponding to each string of battery cells and a pair of negative terminal corresponding to each string of battery cells. In this example, there is a pair of positive battery pack terminal for the A string ofbattery cells 950a, a pair of positive battery pack terminal for the B string ofbattery cells 950b, a pair of negative battery pack terminal for the A string ofbattery cells 950c, and a pair of negative battery pack terminal for the B string ofbattery cells 950d. - The battery pack terminals 950 are electrically coupled to a corresponding terminal of the string of battery cells. More specifically, the positive A string
battery pack terminals 950a are electrically connected to the positive terminal of the A string ofbattery cells 936a, the positive B stringbattery pack terminals 950b are electrically connected to the positive terminal of the B string of battery cells 936b, the negative A stringbattery pack terminals 950c are electrically connected to the negative terminal of the A string of cells 938a and the negative B stringbattery pack terminals 950d are electrically connected to the negative terminal of the B string of battery cells 938b. Furthermore, in a default state the positivebattery pack terminals battery pack terminals - As illustrated in
Figure 73 , when apower tool 966 is mated with the battery pack 900 a pair oftool terminals positive tool terminal 970a mates with and electrically couples the positive A stringbattery pack terminal 950a and the positive B stringbattery pack terminal 950b and anegative tool terminal 970b mates with and electrically couples the negative A stringbattery pack terminal 950c and the negative B stringbattery pack terminal 950d. The tool terminals 970 effectively serve as power switches SW1, SW2 between the terminals of the strings of battery cells. In other words, when thepositive tool terminal 970a mates with and couples the positivebattery pack terminals battery cells 936a, 936b are coupled effectively closing switch SW2 and when thenegative tool terminal 970b mates with and couples the negativebattery pack terminals Figures 73A1, 73A2, 73A3 and 73A4 .
Claims (8)
- A system comprising a removable, secondary battery pack (10, 10', 10") for providing electrical power to an electrical device and a coupler, the battery pack comprising:a primary housing (12) configured with a mechanical interface (14) to mechanically couple the battery pack to each of a plurality of electrical devices within a system of electrical devices;sets of electrically connected battery cells housed within the primary housing; anda switching network having a first state in which the sets of battery cells are electrically connected to each other and a second state in which the sets of battery cells are electrically disconnected from each other; and characterised in that:
the coupler (100, 100', 54S, 132S) is configured to couple with the mechanical interface and cause the switching network to convert between the first state and the second state, wherein the coupler comprises a locking mechanism configured to engage with the battery pack and maintain the switching network in the second state. - A system, as recited in claim 1, wherein the coupler (100, 100', 54S, 132S) is configured to maintain the switching network in the second state during transportation of the battery pack (10, 10', 10").
- A system, as recited in claim 1, wherein the coupler includes a cap (100, 100', 54S) and the battery pack includes a converter element (50), wherein the cap is configured to engage the converter element and the converter element is configured to connect contacts (66) of the switching network.
- A system, as recited in claim 3, wherein the cap (100, 100', 54S) is configured to couple to an exterior surface of the primary housing (12).
- A system, as recited in claim 1, wherein each set of battery cells includes a positive and a negative terminal and the switching network comprises at least one of the positive terminals and the negative terminals of the sets of battery cells and a corresponding set of contacts (66) to connect the at least one of the positive and negative terminals of the sets of battery cells.
- A system, as recited in claim 1, wherein the coupler (100, 100', 54S, 132S) is for electrically disconnecting the sets of battery cells from each other, and/or the coupler is configured to operate the switching networks.
- A system, as recited in claim 1, wherein the coupler is a separating device for electrically disconnecting the sets of battery cells from each other.
- A system, as recited in claim 7, wherein the separating device is configured to mate with the battery pack housing (12) in the same manner as one of the plurality of electrical devices, wherein, upon the separating device mating with the battery pack housing, the sets of battery cells are electrically disconnected.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP20184474.3A EP3745496A1 (en) | 2014-12-12 | 2015-11-03 | Transport system for battery pack |
Applications Claiming Priority (4)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US201462091134P | 2014-12-12 | 2014-12-12 | |
US201562114645P | 2015-02-11 | 2015-02-11 | |
US14/715,258 US9406915B2 (en) | 2014-05-18 | 2015-05-18 | Power tool system |
PCT/US2015/058772 WO2016093979A1 (en) | 2014-12-12 | 2015-11-03 | Transport system for convertible battery pack |
Related Child Applications (2)
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EP20184474.3A Division EP3745496A1 (en) | 2014-12-12 | 2015-11-03 | Transport system for battery pack |
EP20184474.3A Division-Into EP3745496A1 (en) | 2014-12-12 | 2015-11-03 | Transport system for battery pack |
Publications (3)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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EP3231025A1 EP3231025A1 (en) | 2017-10-18 |
EP3231025A4 EP3231025A4 (en) | 2018-10-24 |
EP3231025B1 true EP3231025B1 (en) | 2020-12-23 |
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ID=56107903
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EP20184474.3A Pending EP3745496A1 (en) | 2014-12-12 | 2015-11-03 | Transport system for battery pack |
EP15868166.8A Active EP3231025B1 (en) | 2014-12-12 | 2015-11-03 | Transport system for convertible battery pack |
Family Applications Before (1)
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EP20184474.3A Pending EP3745496A1 (en) | 2014-12-12 | 2015-11-03 | Transport system for battery pack |
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EP (2) | EP3745496A1 (en) |
JP (2) | JP6954740B2 (en) |
CN (1) | CN106537648B (en) |
AU (2) | AU2015361134B2 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2016093979A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (10)
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CN108370008B (en) * | 2015-12-11 | 2022-03-04 | 米沃奇电动工具公司 | Method and device for connecting a plurality of battery cells in series or in parallel |
JP2018073663A (en) * | 2016-10-31 | 2018-05-10 | 日立工機株式会社 | Battery pack |
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JP6953883B2 (en) * | 2017-08-09 | 2021-10-27 | 工機ホールディングス株式会社 | Electrical equipment set |
US11646586B2 (en) * | 2018-10-23 | 2023-05-09 | 2449049 Ontario Inc. | Hybrid power backup storage system |
JP7190885B2 (en) | 2018-11-30 | 2022-12-16 | 株式会社マキタ | power supply system |
CN109378423B (en) * | 2018-11-30 | 2024-01-02 | 格力博(江苏)股份有限公司 | Battery pack transportation system |
CN109360928B (en) * | 2018-11-30 | 2024-03-12 | 格力博(江苏)股份有限公司 | Battery pack and tool system |
CN113508491B (en) * | 2019-03-01 | 2023-06-30 | 米沃奇电动工具公司 | Power tool and battery pack for use therewith |
CN209487590U (en) * | 2019-04-09 | 2019-10-11 | 浙江鼎能电气有限公司 | The dual output battery pack of convenient switching |
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2015
- 2015-11-03 CN CN201580036536.1A patent/CN106537648B/en active Active
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JP6954740B2 (en) | 2021-10-27 |
JP2022002217A (en) | 2022-01-06 |
CN106537648A (en) | 2017-03-22 |
AU2021240313B2 (en) | 2023-11-02 |
AU2015361134A1 (en) | 2016-12-08 |
EP3231025A1 (en) | 2017-10-18 |
CN106537648B (en) | 2021-03-16 |
EP3745496A1 (en) | 2020-12-02 |
AU2015361134B2 (en) | 2021-07-01 |
JP7240467B2 (en) | 2023-03-15 |
EP3231025A4 (en) | 2018-10-24 |
AU2021240313A1 (en) | 2021-10-28 |
WO2016093979A1 (en) | 2016-06-16 |
JP2017537425A (en) | 2017-12-14 |
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